Casualties unknown

1983-05-09: Beech A36 (N6039Z) — Minonk, IL

Minonk, IL, US

On May 9, 1983, a Beech A36 (registration N6039Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Minonk, IL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

The pilot reported achieving only 70 knots at the runway end during takeoff from a private farm strip. The aircraft then struck a road shoulder and crashed in a plowed field. No preimpact mechanical problems were found.

Incident Details

According to the pilot's report, during takeoff from a private farm strip, the aircraft had only 70 knots indicated airspeed as it approached the end of the runway. At that point, there was insufficient room to abort the takeoff, and the pilot believed the aircraft did not have enough airspeed to clear wires located along a roadway approximately 330 feet from the strip. Between the end of the strip and the road, the terrain consisted of plowed ground and sloped slightly upward.

Faced with these conditions, the pilot elected to fly between the roadway and the wires. However, the nose gear struck the shoulder of the road. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed and came to rest in another plowed field beyond the road.

Examination

An examination of the aircraft and its engine revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical problem. The aircraft's systems and structure were inspected, and no anomalies were found that could have contributed to the sequence of events.

Runway Conditions

A check of the runway revealed that the first few hundred feet of the strip had soft ground, with grass growing to a height of 3 to 4 inches. These conditions may have affected the aircraft's acceleration during the takeoff roll.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X42894. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.