# NTSB NYC94LA017: Beech 77, N67197, Littleton, MA, October 23, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1993, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Littleton, MA - Location: 42.5376° N, 71.5120° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Littleton, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5376&lon=-71.5120&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38706 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38706/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA017 ## Probable cause THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT DECISION IN THE SELECTION OF THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING AREA, AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO AROUND WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH TREES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT INITIATED A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING AT 2500 FEET. THE STUDENT BEGAN TO SPIRAL DOWN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SELECTED AREA. THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A STEEP DESCENT WHEN THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR NOTICED A HILL BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE AND THE SELECTED AREA. THE INSTRUCTOR ADDED FULL POWER AND LEVELED THE WINGS IN AN ATTEMPT TO ARREST THE DESCENT. THE AIRPLANE WAS NEAR STALL SPEED WHEN IT STRUCK TREES, NOSED OVER AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY ON THE ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THE HILL. ## Factual narrative On Saturday, October 23, 1993, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Beech 77, N67197, piloted by Michael D. MacMann, was substantially damaged during a practice forced landing near Littleton, Massachusetts. The flight instructor was not injured and the student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the flight instructor stated that this was a dual instructional flight and they initiated a simulated, off-field forced landing at 2500 feet. The airplane completed two descending spirals and was in a "relatively steep descent", when the flight instructor "first saw a previously unnoticed hill" between the aircraft and the selected simulated off-field landing site. The instructor further stated: "...I immediately added full power and leveled the wings in an attempt to arrest the descent. The aircraft brushed the tops of the trees...at the time of contact...[the airplane]...was in a level flight attitude, but in a slight descent...the aircraft was...slightly above stall speed. After making contact with the trees, the aircraft became uncontrollable, pitched downward and made...two spirals through the trees...the unexpected...high rate of descent may have resulted from air disturbances in the vicinity of the hill...I never would have chosen this site had I been aware of the intervening hill." The student pilot stated: "...My observation...is that distance above the ground and airspeed was misjudged. In front of the field where we were supposed to simulate a landing at, was a hill with trees...We descended ...lower than the hill in front of us and tried to recover, but stalled in the process...I looked at the airspeed indicator and it read about 38 knots (about 200 feet to 150 feet) and dropping. The aircraft nose and left wing began to drop...we stalled...about...10 feet above the trees..." The FAA Inspector's statement stated: "...The CFI felt the engine operated normally on the attempt to clear the hill, He did not suspect carburetor ice or any other malfunction..." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67197](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67197-1994-06-08), registration cancelled 1994-06-08, S/N WA92 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 77 - Registry model: [Beech 77](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-77) (registry code 1153007) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: WA-92 - Airframe hours: 3547 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hanscom Afb Aero Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 13, 1993, 15 hours before - Departed: BED, BEDFORD, MA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,150 total, 160 in this make and model, 3,150 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BED, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19931023040609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931023040609A), Oct 23, 1993: Beech 77, Littleton, MA, Substantial damage. During practice engine out stalled into trees. CFI misjudged altitude and a hill in glide path to chosen field. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.