# NTSB WPR12LA104: Beech G18, Hollister, CA, February 14, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 14, 2012, 13:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Hollister, CA - Coordinates: 36.893333, -121.410278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8933&lon=-121.4103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82894 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82894/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82894 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing, loss of directional control, and ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was preparing the airplane for a transpacific flight. The day before the accident, he conducted two test flights, and he noted that, during each flight, the oil temperature for the right engine was slightly higher than expected but that it remained within normal operating limitations. On the day of the accident, he decided to perform another test flight and brought a mechanic to assist with identifying any engine issues. The pilot reported that, just after liftoff, the airplane's right wing dropped, which he believed was due to a loss of right engine power. The pilot decided to reduce the left engine's power in an attempt to return the airplane to a wings-level attitude. The airplane then rolled left and pitched nose down. The airplane landed hard in a left-wing-low attitude, and the left main landing gear tire ruptured. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane, which subsequently ground looped, departed the runway surface, and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing tip and aileron. The mechanic-passenger reported that the pilot did not align the airplane with the runway centerline during the takeoff, and, as a result, when the tailwheel lifted, the airplane veered left. As the pilot attempted to realign the airplane with the runway centerline, the airplane became airborne in a left-wing-high configuration. The airplane lifted off and began to climb and then the nose and left wing dropped. The mechanic reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures to the right engine that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot, in attempting to maintain runway alignment and a wings-level attitude, failed to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On February 14, 2012, about 1340 Pacific standard time, a foreign-registered (Australia) Beech Aircraft Corp. G18-S, VH-NWB, landed hard during an aborted takeoff at Hollister Municipal Airport (CVH), Hollister, California. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area test flight. The pilot reported that he was to ferry the airplane to Australia the following day with a planned intermediate stop in Hilo, Hawaii. He had performed two test flights the day before the accident without incident. The pilot reported that during the two test flights the right-hand engine had a slightly higher oil temperature indication than the left engine, but it was still within operating limitations, and there was a shudder in flight that lasted for no more than a second or two. On the day of the accident, the pilot decided to undertake one more test flight before departing for Hilo the next day. He reported that he took a mechanic along for the flight to view the oil gauge and feel the shudder. While on the ground there was no high oil temperature indication. As the airplane began its takeoff roll, the pilot indicated that it was not as perfect as the earlier flights. Around 50 miles per hour (mph) the tail came up, and at 100 mph the main wheels lifted off the ground. The speed continued to increase during climb out. About 30 feet above the ground, the pilot stated that without notice the right wing fell and he believed that the right engine had lost some power. He countered with aileron control, which was not effective because the airspeed was below blue line. The pilot immediately retarded the left engine in an attempt to return to a wings level attitude. He stated that he felt this corrective step was necessary, but perhaps too aggressive in the process of getting the wings level. The airplane subsequently descended and landed hard on the left main landing gear, which blew the tire. The airplane departed the side of the runway coming to rest in a grassy area. The mechanic reported that during the takeoff roll, as the airplane was gaining speed, the tail began to lift and the airplane veered to the left of the runway and almost ran over a taxiway exit sign. Corrections were made and the left wing began to lift as the airplane was heading back toward runway centerline. As the airplane was approaching the center of the runway, it became airborne with the left wing higher than the right wing. The airplane was not aligned with runway centerline, and the airspeed was about 90-95 knots or less. The airplane attained an altitude of about 70 to 90 feet above ground level when the nose dropped and the left wing began to drop lower than the right wing. The airplanedescended and ground looped to the left of the runway coming to rest in a ditch next to the runway. In the mechanic's statement, he did not indicate a mechanical malfunction or loss of power to the right engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: VH-NWB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH G18 (S) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA-548 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 7790 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 reciprocating; Pratt & Whitney R-1340 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 18, 2011 - Departed: CHV, Hollister, CA - Destination: CHV, Hollister, CA - Airport: CHV, Hollister Municipal Airport, runway 31, 6,350 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2010; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,431 total, 16 in this make and model, 81 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: CVH ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82894. 8.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement to FAA (item 3, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Left View of Airplane (item 4, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Left%20View%20of%20Airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Left Wing (item 5, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Left%20Wing-Master.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.