# NTSB WPR09LA208: Beech V35B, N8124R, Groveland, CA, April 22, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 2009, 17:50 local (Apr 22, 2009, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Groveland, CA - Coordinates: 37.856945, -120.173332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8569&lon=-120.1733&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 11, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Teledyne Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 73701 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73701/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73701 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA208 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he set up for a simulated emergency approach to an airstrip. During final approach, the pilot realized that he would be landing too long and announced to his instructor that he would do a go-around. The pilot added power to go-around; however, the engine did not respond. The pilot rechecked the engine controls while the airplane was still over the runway. Realizing that he was running out of runway, the pilot pushed the nose down to try and land before hitting objects in his flight path. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain at the east end of the airport and came to rest on a public roadway. Four separate successful engine runs were accomplished during the post accident examination. No anomalies were noted during any of the runs. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 21, 2009, about 1750 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Beech V35B, N8124R, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power during a go-around at Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45), Groveland, California. The co-owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot with a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate sustained serious injuries, and the private pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) received minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed Livermore, California, about 1720. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The private pilot was being given a biennial flight review (BFR) by the CFI. The private pilot reported that he accomplished one touch-and-go. During the second approach he asked his instructor if he could practice an emergency approach. The instructor told the private pilot to wait until he was downwind and abeam the numbers on the approach end before pulling the power. The pilot set up for the simulated emergency approach, but realized on final that he would be landing too long. The pilot announced that he would do a go-around. The airplane was floating down the runway when the pilot added power to go-around, however, the engine did not respond. The pilot rechecked the engine controls as the airplane was still floating down the runway. Realizing that he was running out of runway, the pilot pushed the nose down to try and land before hitting objects in his flight path. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain at the east end of the airport and came to rest on a public roadway. During the recovery of the airplane it was noted that the fuel selector handle was out of the detent between the right and left main fuel tanks. In the pilot's written statement, he indicated that "for the record, I did not touch the fuel selector valve." On April 29, 2009, investigators conducted an examination of the airplane and engine. Four separate engine runs were accomplished. Two test runs of the engine were performed with the fuel selector handle out of the detent between the right and left main fuel tank selection. During the first test run, the engine ran at 2,700 rpm for 24 seconds before stopping. The second test run the engine was at idle and the engine ran for 1 minute 38 seconds before stopping. No anomalies were noted during the runs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8124R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8124R-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N D-9656, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-9656 - Airframe hours: 3788 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2009, 5 hours before - Departed: LVK, Livermore, CA - Destination: E45, Groveland, CA - Airport: E45, Pine Mountain Lake Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 900 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MER, 34 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 20090421007189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090421007189A), Apr 21, 2009: Beech V35B, Groveland, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While performing a simulated "engine out" approach for a downwind landing on runway 9 at E45: due to the steep approach, the certificated pilot and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73701. 512 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Teledyne Aircraft Examination Report (item 2, .PDF, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Teledyne%20Aircraft%20Examination%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.