# NTSB SEA07LA163: Beech B24R, N6511R, Tonopah, NV, June 17, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2007, 13:54 local (20:54 UTC) - Place: Tonopah, NV - Coordinates: 38.060276, -117.087219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0603&lon=-117.0872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Las Vegas Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 65992 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65992/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA163 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall during the takeoff initial climb. The pilot's diverted attention to an open door, high density altitude, and wind gusts were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - door - open - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the takeoff initial climb, at approximately 30 feet above ground level and halfway down the runway, the pilot initiated the landing gear retraction. The landing gear legs retracted at different rates, inducing "momentary, but noticeable yaw." Simultaneously with the induced yaw, the pilot side cabin door opened approximately 3 to 4 inches and the pilot felt "a loss of lift" in the aircraft. The aircraft rolled to a right bank of 30 degrees and a nose down attitude of 20 degrees. The pilot attempted to correct for the roll and pitch, but did not have sufficient altitude. The aircraft impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude approximately 300 feet to the right of the runway. Winds reported at the airport at the time of the accident were from 290 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The density altitude at the time of the accident was 8,400 feet. Post accident inspections by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed nothing remarkable with the aircraft. Both sets of the left and right door latches were found to operate freely and retracted fully when using the internal and external door handles. In 1990, Beechcraft Aircraft Corporation issued a Safety Communique concerning cabin door operation/openings. The Communique states that an open cabin door does not change an airplane's flight characteristics. However, it does state that an aircraft's climb performance can be decreased up to 130 feet per minute from handbook values, and that the decrease in climb performance can be more significant at high density altitudes. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2007, at 1354 Pacific daylight time, a Beech B24R, N6511R, impacted terrain following a loss of control during the takeoff initial climb from runway 33 at the Tonopah Airport, Tonopah, Nevada. The airplane sustained substantial damage, the pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger received serious injuries. The airline transport pilot, who held private pilot privileges in single engine land airplanes, was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight that was originating when the accident occurred, and a Visual Flight Rules flight plan was filed. The intended destination was Cedar City, Utah. The pilot reported that during the takeoff initial climb, at approximately 30 feet above ground level (AGL) and halfway down the runway, he initiated the landing gear retraction. The landing gear legs retracted at different rates, inducing "momentary, but noticeable yaw." Simultaneously with the induced yaw, the pilot side cabin door opened approximately 3 to 4 inches and the pilot felt "a loss of lift" in the aircraft. The aircraft rolled to a right bank of 30 degrees and a nose down attitude of 20 degrees. The pilot attempted to correct for the roll and pitch, but did not have sufficient altitude. The aircraft impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude approximately 300 feet to the right of the runway. Weather reported at Tonopah Airport, elevation 5,426 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), at 1356 local time, was wind from 290 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 25 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 9 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.11 inches of Mercury. The calculated density altitude was 8,400 feet. Post accident inspections by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed nothing remarkable with the aircraft. Both sets of the left and right door latches were found to operate freely and retracted fully when using the internal and external door handles. In weight and balance calculations computed by the pilot, the airplane, at departure, was estimated to be 4 pounds under its maximum gross weight of 2,750 pounds. In 1990, Beechcraft Aircraft Corporation issued a Safety Communique concerning cabin door operation/openings. The Communique states that an open cabin door does not change an airplane's flight characteristics. However, it does state that an aircraft's climb performance can be decreased up to 130 feet per minute from handbook values, and that the decrease in climb performance can be more significant at high density altitudes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6511R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6511R-2009-12-14), registration cancelled 2009-12-14, S/N MC-280, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B24R - Registry model: [Beech B24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b24r) (registry code 1151253) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MC-280 - Airframe hours: 3335 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Blaine S Nay - Registered owner: Blaine S Nay and Annette Nay - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007 - Departed: TPH, Tonopah, NV - Destination: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TPH, Tonopah, runway 33, 7,057 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; private, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 20,125 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,510 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 13 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: TPH, 1 nm away ## 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 20070617010959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070617010959A), Jun 17, 2007: Beech B24R, Tonopah, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) Sequence: the accident aircraft, N6511R landed at Tonopah Airport, NV (ktph) and was provided service from an airport FBO. At 1933 UTC, N6511R was… 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.