Casualties unknown

2003-03-24: Beech A36 (N435P) — Farmington, NM

Farmington, NM, US

On March 24, 2003, a Beech A36 (registration N435P) was involved in an aviation accident near Farmington, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's premature liftoff resulting in his failure to attain airspeed and achieve takeoff climb. Contributing factors were the runway light and taxiway sign. 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

During a soft field takeoff practice, the pilot lost lift and touched down in dirt, causing damage to the horizontal stabilizer, elevator, flaps, and fuselage.

Landing

The pilot executed a full-stop soft field landing on runway 07. After landing, he taxied back to the ramp area.

Takeoff Practice

The pilot then decided to practice a soft field takeoff. He set flaps to 12 degrees, applied full power, and lifted off. During the climb, he applied slight right rudder to maintain track and lowered the nose to see the runway and achieve ground effect. The airplane began drifting to the left, prompting him to apply additional right rudder.

Loss of Control

According to the pilot, the airplane appeared to lose lift. As he attempted to return to the runway centerline, he felt a hit on the bottom of the aircraft when it touched down in the dirt adjacent to the runway. The pilot was able to bring the airplane to a halt.

Post-Accident Examination

After the event, the pilot taxied the aircraft back to the ramp, noting that it steered adequately but that he felt obvious damage. A subsequent examination revealed holes in the horizontal stabilizer and left elevator, a cracked trim tab, and a bent aft spar of the horizontal stabilizer. The left landing gear door and left flap were destroyed, and a wing rib was bent. The bottom of the fuselage, aft of the wing flap, was dented and the bulkhead buckled.

Weather Conditions

Wind conditions reported before and after the accident were from 090 degrees at 6 knots and from 100 degrees at 5 knots, respectively.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030403X00428. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.