# NTSB SEA02LA159: Beech C-35, N1888D, Nampa, ID, August 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2002, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Nampa, ID - Coordinates: 43.58139, -116.527221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5814&lon=-116.5272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55513 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55513/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA159 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following an inadvertent opening of the airplane's storm window. ## Analysis In a written statement the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, approximately 50 feet above ground level (AGL), the airplane's storm window opened and he aborted the initial climb in an effort to land on the remaining runway. He further stated that during the descent to land he was unable to control the aircraft's sink rate resulting in a hard landing. The pilot stated that he hadn't experienced any mechanical difficulties or malfunctions with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2002, about 1200 mountain daylight time, a Beech C-35, N1888D, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a hard landing at Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho. The commercial pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, a second passenger received serious injures and the third passenger was not injured. The airplane was owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation. In a written statement dated August 25, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, approximately 50 feet above ground level (AGL), the airplane's storm window opened and he aborted the initial climb in an effort to land on the remaining runway. He further stated that during the descent to land he was unable to control the aircraft's sink rate resulting in a hard landing. The pilot was conducting an orientation flight in support of the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Young Eagles program. EAA Chapter 103, Nampa, Idaho, organized the event. The pilot stated that he hadn't experienced any mechanical difficulties or malfunctions with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1888D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1888D-2019-12-11), registration cancelled 2019-12-11, S/N D-3160, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C-35 - Registry model: [Beech C35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (registry code 1151508) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-3160 - Airframe hours: 3741 - Engines: Continental E-185 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald L. Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2002, 27 hours before - Departed: S67, NAMPA, ID - Destination: S67, Nampa, ID - Airport: S67, Nampa Muni, runway 29, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,443 total, 505 in this make and model, 1,443 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KEUL ## 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 20020817023029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020817023029A), Aug 17, 2002: Beech C35BEECH, Nampa, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) As the pilot was taking off, the storm (vent) window on the pilots left side opened. The aircraft was about 100 feet in the air when the pilot tried to… ## Other investigations on N1888D (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR19FA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA150), May 19, 2019: Beech 35 (N1888D), Melba, ID, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control during a low-level aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to the effects of alcohol and… 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.