# NTSB SEA00LA137: Beaver Ferguson F-II, N8228R, Benton City, WA, July 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2000, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Benton City, WA - Coordinates: 46.239452, -119.48944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2395&lon=-119.4894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49783/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to approach the strip with adequate airspeed for the conditions (resulting in a stall/mush situation), and his failure to maintain adequate altitude and/or clearance above a power line on the approach path. Factors included crosswind conditions, terrain-induced turbulence, and the power line. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence,terrain induced (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot was approaching runway 01 at his strip from the southwest, with wind from the east-northeast at 10 to 15 knots. The pilot stated that on his approach to the runway, he had to cross over a north-south power line that was about 30 feet high. The pilot stated that just as the plane passed a row of 70-foot-high trees located to the right of the approach path, at an altitude of about 50 feet, he 'felt the plane stall.' The pilot stated he applied full throttle, but that the airplane 'did [not] respond quick enough to avoid the power line.' The pilot stated that the aircraft's left wheel caught and broke the power line, which 'threw the plane in a left downward [attitude with] the left wing hitting first then the nose.' The pilot reported: 'I had landed on this runway numerous times but never with this wind velocity or direction.' The pilot indicated that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident, and that he felt the accident could have been prevented by 'faster [approach] speed [and] higher altitude.' ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2000, approximately 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Beaver Ferguson F-II amateur-built airplane, N8228R, was substantially damaged when it struck power lines and crashed on approach to landing at a private airstrip owned by the pilot near Benton City, Washington. A power line which was downed by the collision also started a grass fire in the area. The unlicensed pilot was not injured in the accident. The pilot did not indicate the flight's origin point in his NTSB accident report. Visual meteorological conditions existed and (according to the FAA preliminary accident notification) a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight (the FAA did not furnish details of the reported flight plan.) The pilot reported that he was approaching runway 01 at his strip from the southwest, with wind from the east-northeast at 10 to 15 knots. The pilot stated that on his approach to the runway, he had to cross over a north-south power line that was about 30 feet high. The pilot stated that just as the plane passed a row of 70-foot-high poplar trees located to the right of the approach path, at an altitude of about 50 feet, he "felt the plane stall." The pilot stated he applied full throttle, but that the airplane "did [not] respond quick enough to avoid the power line." The pilot stated that the aircraft's left wheel caught and broke the power line, which "threw the plane in a left downward [attitude with] the left wing hitting first then the nose." The pilot reported: "I had landed on this runway numerous times but never with this wind velocity or direction." The pilot indicated that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident, and that he felt the accident could have been prevented by "faster [approach] speed [and] higher altitude." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8228R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8228R-2000-08-17), registration cancelled 2000-08-17, S/N 017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beaver FERGUSON F-II (FERGUSON F) - Registry model: [Beaver Thomas R FERGUSON F II](https://openairdocs.org/model/beaver-thomas-r-ferguson-f-ii) (registry code 05602GJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 017 - Airframe hours: 225 - Engines: Hirth 2704 55 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gary D. Brons - Registered owner: Thomas R. Beaver - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 2000, 2 hours before - Departed: UNKNOWN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: runway 1, 650 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 550 total, 227 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 77° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 20000721009329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000721009329A), Jul 21, 2000: Benton City, WA, No damage. (-23) While on approach to landing on his private airstrip no. of Benton City, WA. Mr. Gary brons a/c struck a powerline with the left main landing gear. The… 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.