# NTSB NYC95LA055: Beech C23, N812Y, Rochester, NH, February 15, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 15, 1995, 12:37 local (17:37 UTC) - Place: Rochester, NH - Location: 43.3045° N, 70.9756° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rochester, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3045&lon=-70.9756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38920 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38920/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate inflight planning/decision and inadvertently turning the ignition switch to the off position. A factor was the ignition switch stuck in the off position. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ignition system - switched off (cause) - engine shutdown - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - ignition system,ignition switch - jammed (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED, '...ON CLIMBOUT THE POPPING SOUND BECAME VERY LOUD IN (THE PILOT'S AND PASSENGER'S HEADSETS).... (ABOUT 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL) I DECIDED TO CHECK THE (MAGNETOS).... I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH COUNTER CLOCKWISE TO THE FIRST (MAGNETO) POSITION. THE SOUND DID NOT CHANGE. I RETURNED THE KEY TO THE BOTH POSITION. I THEN TURNED THE KEY TO THE SECOND(MAGNETO) POSITION. THE SOUND DID NOT CHANGE SO I TRIED TO JIGGLE THE KEY...I INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE KEY TOO FAR LEFT AND IT WENT INTO THE OFF POSITION. IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN RIGHT. THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED.' THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR STATED, 'ONLY A SMALL, SNOW COVERED FIELD WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED. DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE FIELD, THE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING, SEVERING THE GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP IN APPROX. 90 FT.' POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED 'WITH ANY FORWARD PRESSURE PUSHING THE KEY IN, THE IGNITION KEY WOULD STICK AND NOT TURN FROM (LEFT MAGNETO) POSITION TOWARD BOTH.' ## Factual narrative On Wednesday, February 15, 1995 about 1237 eastern standard time, a Beech 23, N812Y piloted by William Riehl was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a field in Rochester, New Hampshire. He departed Rochester, New Hampshire destined for Concord, New Hampshire. The pilot and passenger received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported he took off on runway 15. During the climb he heard a noise through his headset. The pilot stated, "...On climbout the popping sound became very loud in (the pilot's and passenger's headsets). At between 1100 and 1200 FT mean sea level (about 800 feet above ground level) I decided to check the (magnetos). I lowered the nose for level flight and reduced power slightly (the sound did not change). I then proceeded to turn the ignition switch counter clockwise to the first (magneto) position. The sound did not change. I returned the key to the both position. I then turned the key to the second (magneto) position. The sound did not change so I tried to jiggle the key and make it turn to the right. In my attempts to turn the key to the right I inadvertently turned the key too far left and it went into the off position. It still would not turn right. The engine had stopped. I tried to turn the key for some time, even pulling the key out and re-inserting it. Nothing worked so I decided to fly the airplane. The only open place was very close ahead and I decided to land there. The field was not large and there was a house at the far end. Of necessity the landing was hard. I did not wish to hit the house." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Inspector stated, "Only a small, snow covered field was available at the time and a forced landing was accomplished. Due to the size of the field, the pilot made a hard landing, severing the gear. The aircraft slid to a stop in approx. 90 ft." Post accident examination revealed "With any forward pressure pushing the key in, the ignition key would stick and not turn from (left magneto) position toward both." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N812Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N812Y-1996-02-07), registration cancelled 1996-02-07, S/N M2312 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-2312 - Airframe hours: 2746 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William Riehl - Registered owner: William Riehl - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1994, 27 hours before - Departed: 6B1 - Destination: CON, CONCORD, NH - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 6B1, Skyhaven, runway 15, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 197 total, 130 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F ## 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 19950215001819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950215001819A), Feb 15, 1995: Beech C23, Rochester, NH, Substantial damage. Heard popping noise on climbout. Turned off mags by mistake checking. Ignition switch jammed. Severed gear landing. 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.