# NTSB WPR12LA110: Beech C23, N5205M, Rawlins, WY, February 18, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2012, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Rawlins, WY - Coordinates: 41.821666, -107.213607 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8217&lon=-107.2136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82927 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82927/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82927 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA110 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C23, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the takeoff roll was uneventful and that the airplane became airborne and accelerated to best-rate-of-climb speed; however, the airplane did not climb as expected. The pilot stated that the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) warned of rising terrain off the departure end of the runway and instructed an immediate turn to the right. As a result, at the end of the runway and at an altitude of between 75 and 200 feet above the ground, the pilot began a right turn to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. However, the airplane stopped climbing, and he pitched up until the stall warning horn sounded. He said that he turned to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, and the stall warning horn continued to “chirp.” The airplane began to descend and subsequently touched down in a sagebrush-covered field. The landing on rough terrain substantially damaged the airplane’s right wing spar and wrinkled the fuselage. Review of the AFD revealed that it did not warn of rising terrain off the departure end of the runway: however, it did request that “all aircraft departing runway 28 make right turnout as soon as safety permits after takeoff to avoid housing area and for noise abatement.” It is likely that as a result of the increased pitch attitude, the pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed during the climb, as indicated by the stall warning horn sounding, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and descended to ground impact. The pilot indicated that he did not know if there was a preimpact mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2012, approximately 0830 mountain standard time, a Beech C23 Sundowner, N5205M, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of aircraft control near Rawlins Municipal Airport (6,817 foot elevation), Rawlins, Wyoming. The pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had been filed with a destination of Goodland, Kansas. The pilot stated that the airplane was fueled the night before the accident flight. During the preflight examination on the day of the accident, the pilot noticed frost on the wings and he proceeded to remove all the frost with his hand. The engine started easily, and idled for about 30 minutes to warm the oil into the yellow on the oil temperature gauge. The pilot reported that the takeoff roll was uneventful, and the airplane became airborne and accelerated to the best rate of climb speed of 75 knots, as expected. He said that he kept the airplane pitched for 75 knots, but it was not climbing as expected. Upon reaching the end of the runway, the airplane was about 75 to 200 feet above ground level. The pilot said that the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) “warned of rising terrain and instructed an immediate turn to the right.” The pilot began a right cross-wind turn, and the airplane stopped climbing. He responded by adding nose up pitch until the first indication of the stall warning horn. The pilot said he made a very shallow turn to downwind, and the stall warning horn continued to “chirp”. The airplane subsequently descended and touched down in a sagebrush covered field. During the landing roll on the rough terrain, the right wing spar was bent, and the fuselage was bent and wrinkled. The AFD states the following regarding takeoffs on runway 28 at Rawlins Municipal: “Request all aircraft departing runway 28 make right turnout as soon as safety permits after takeoff to avoid housing area and for noise abatement.” Rawlins Municipal Airport is located at an elevation of 6,817 feet. The density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to have been 5,709 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5205M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5205M-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N M-2007, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-2007 - Airframe hours: 3801 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jimmie E. Meadows - Registered owner: Jimmie E. Meadows - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2011 - Departed: RWL, Rawlins, WY - Destination: GLD, Goodland, KS - Airport: RWL, Rawlins Municipal Airport, runway 28, 4,322 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,024 total, 11 in this make and model, 713 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: RWL ## 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 20120218002039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120218002039A), Feb 18, 2012: Beech C23, Rawlings, WY, Substantial damage. 02/18/2012, @0830MST, Beechcraft BE23, N5205M departed rwy 28 at rawliings, WY., attempted to return to airport and landed in field approx. 1 mile nw of… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82927. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (with 5 embedded photos) (item 2, .PDF, 5 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20(with%205%20embedded%20photos)-Master.PDF - FAA Advisory Circular AC90-66A (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Advisory%20Circular%20AC90-66A-Master.PDF - FAA Airport Facility Directory, Rawlins Municipal (item 4, .PDF, 253 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Airport%20Facility%20Directory,%20Rawlins%20Municipal-Master.PDF - FAA AIM Traffic Pattern Operations (item 5, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393085&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20AIM%20Traffic%20Pattern%20Operations-Master.PDF - Beechcraft A23 Best Rate and Best Angle of Climb Speeds (item 6, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Beechcraft%20A23%20Best%20Rate%20and%20Best%20Angle%20of%20Climb%20Speeds-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.