# NTSB SEA03LA034: Beech E18S, Burlington, WA, February 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Date: February 4, 2003, 13:10 UTC, 05:10 local - Place: Burlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.482776, -122.440002 - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director, July 23, 2003 - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56431 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA034 - NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56431/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56431 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately remove ice/frost from the aircraft and to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff. An inadequate preflight was a factor. ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the preflight he noted ice and frost adhering to the airplane. After applying glycol he polished and brushed off the frost. The pilot warmed up the engines before taking off to stay in the pattern "to clear the airplane of the ice, and to make sure everything was working properly." Before releasing the brakes, the pilot brought the power up to make sure everything was in the green. The pilot stated that for takeoff, he "tried to baby the engines using a less than max power for the departure." The tail of the airplane came up about 3/4 of the way down the runway. Seeing the end of the runway, more power was added and the aircraft lifted off. The landing gear was raised when a positive rate was attained. Shortly after gear retraction the pilot stated that, "I felt the airplane mushing, like a stall. I then added more power, but the aircraft kept mushing, and then it impacted terrain with power on both engines." The aircraft came to rest in an open field located approximately 1/4 mile from the end of the runway. After the accident, ice was still noted adhering to most of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On February 4, 2003, about 0510 Pacific standard time, a Beech E18S twin-engine airplane, N48K, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain shortly after takeoff from the Skagit Regional Airport (BVS), Burlington, Washington. The airplane is registered to Comanche Air Inc., Winthrop, Washington, and was being operated by Methow Aviation, of Burlington, Washington. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured during the 14 CFR Part 91 local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that during his preflight inspection he noticed ice and frost adhering to the airplane. He stated that after applying glycol to the wings and polishing and brushing off the frost, "then they were smooth." The pilot further stated that he let the engines warm up for 15 to 20 minutes before "taking it around the patch once to clear the airplane of the ice, and to make sure everything was working properly." Before releasing the brakes to take off, the pilot brought the power up on both engines "to make sure everything was in the green." After releasing the brakes, the pilot stated "I slowly brought the power up, maintaining 2000 rpm on the propellers." The pilot stated, "I tried to baby the engines using a less than max power for the departure." The tail of the airplane came up about 3/4 of the way down the 5,477 foot runway, and "seeing the end of the runway coming up, I added more power and pulled it off the ground." The pilot also reported that after seeing a "positive rate" he retracted the landing gear, and shortly thereafter "I felt the airplane mushing, like a stall. I then added more power, but the aircraft kept mushing, and then it impacted terrain with power on both engines." The aircraft came to rest in an open field located approximately 1/4 mile from the end of runway 28. After impact, the aircraft's engines separated at the firewall. Subsequently, the aircraft veered 90 degrees to the right, coming to rest in an upright position perpendicular to the runway. There was no post-impact fire. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that both engines had separated from the firewall, the right wing sustained spar damage, both vertical stabilizers and rudders were bent. At 0505, the weather observation facility located at BVS reported wind calm, visibility 4 statute miles, temperature -1 degree C, dew point -1 degree C, and an altimeter of 30.45 inches of Mercury. The Director of Maintenance (DOM) for Methow Aviation reported that he arrived at the accident site about 0845 and observed ice adhering to most of the airplane. The DOM stated that the company does have a de-icing procedure which is normally done by the pilot. ## Sequence of events - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - open field - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ice/frost removal from aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: N48K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48K-2007-04-11) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech E18S - Registry model: Beech E18S (registry code 1151006, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA-202 - Airframe hours: 19243 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985 450 horsepower - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Methow Aviation - Departed: BVS, Burlington, WA - Destination: BVS, Burlington, WA - Airport: BVS, Skagit Regional Airport, runway 28 - FAA reports: 20030204001019A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030204001019A) (OpenAirDocs) ## Flight crew - Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; medical class 1; hours: 70 30 days, 25 30 days in this make and model, 200 90 days, 80 90 days in this make and model, 2,600 instructor, 5,800 pic, 550 pic in this make and model, 6,000 total, 600 total in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility (statute miles): 4 - Temperature (°F): 30.2 ## Docket (3 files) On NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56431 - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Operator (.PDF, 6 pages, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Operator-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot (.PDF, 6 pages, 272 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation with Pilot (.PDF, 1 pages, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.