- Date
- March 15, 1995, 17:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place
- Plymouth, NH
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9305SBeech 23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 31, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950315019599A
- Case key
- 38932
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during the aborted takeoff. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse runway conditions and snowbank beside the runway.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot landed on a soft/wet turf runway that was notamed to have patchy ice and snow. After landing, he taxied to the parking area. After the airplane was loaded with 2 passengers and luggage, the pilot initiated a takeoff (using soft field procedures). Just after lift off (about 5 feet above the runway), the stall warning horn sounded, and the pilot felt that the airspeed was too low, so he decided to abort the takeoff. He reported that the airplane went into a 'right bank.' He attempted to correct by applying opposite aileron and rudder, but was not successful. The left main landing gear struck a snow bank on the right side of the airstrip, and the airplane 'yawed left (and) settled to the ground, skidding sideways.'
Factual narrative
On March 15, 1995, at 1725 eastern standard time, a Beech 23, N9305S, piloted by Andrew Bonney, was substantially damaged after an aborted takeoff at the Plymouth Airport, Plymouth, New Hampshire. The pilot and the 2 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91.
On takeoff, at about 5 feet above the runway, the pilot felt that the airspeed was too low, and he aborted the takeoff.
According to the pilot's written statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after making a pre-flight check and run up, he started his takeoff roll on a soft wet grass runway. He wrote:
...I applied full throttle, yoke full aft...softness slowed the aircraft's acceleration occasionally...I eased back pressure on yoke to keep nose off ground as speed re-eased...airspeed indicator showed insufficient airspeed to take-off at mid-point on runway...stall warning horn sounded...aircraft took low flight over each roll in strip, then settled to ground...I retarded the throttle to abort take-off....
The pilot wrote that the airplane went into a "right bank." The pilot attempted to correct by applying opposite aileron and rudder but was not successful. The left main landing gear struck a snow bank on the right side of the airstrip, "yawed left," and "settled to the ground, skidding sideways."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9305S
- Reported as
- Beech 23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M-1632
- Airframe hours
- 3,628
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- General Avation Service
- Registered owner
- Arthur J. Bernard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 20, 1995 · 40 hours before
- Destination
- BVY · Beverly, MA
- Airport
- NH12 · Plymouth, runway 30, 2,350 × 90 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 19
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 86 total · 14 in this make and model · 49 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.