- Date
- October 6, 2013, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tilden, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2051NBeech A36
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20131006019519A
- Case key
- 88178
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue the takeoff from a wet and soft airstrip which resulted in his failure to maintain adequate airspeed and aircraft control during the takeoff initial climb.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the private airstrip was muddy and soft due to rain showers the night before. During the short field takeoff, the airplane drifted left of centerline and the left main landing gear encountered mud which impeded ground speed. The pilot applied right rudder control to re-center the airplane on the airstrip as the takeoff was continued. After rotation, the pilot kept the airplane in ground effect to build airspeed, however, he was approaching the end of the airstrip and trees. The pilot initiated a steep angle of attack which resulted in the airplane stalling about 60 feet above ground level. The airplane descended, collided with the ground, and cartwheeled before coming to rest. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the private airstrip was muddy and soft due to rain showers the night before. During the short field takeoff, the airplane drifted left of centerline and the left main landing gear encountered mud which impeded ground speed. The pilot applied right rudder control to re-center the airplane on the airstrip as the takeoff was continued. After rotation, the pilot kept the airplane in ground effect to build airspeed, however, he was approaching the end of the airstrip and trees. The pilot initiated a steep angle of attack which resulted in the airplane stalling about 60 feet above ground level. The airplane descended, collided with the ground, and cartwheeled before coming to rest. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2051N
- Reported as
- Beech A36 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E-1409
- Built
- 1978
- Airframe hours
- 6,249
- Engine
- Continental Motors IO-520-BB15, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- J & J Aircraft LLC
- Registered owner
- J & J Aircraft LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2013
- Departed
- NONE · Tilden, TX
- Destination
- PEZ · Pleasanton, TX
- Airport
- NONE · Private
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 6, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 740 total · 460 in this make and model · 718 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 872 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.