Beechcraft E33A N464SR

Summary

On 13 May 2001 at about 23:50 local time, a Beechcraft E33A registered N464SR, operated by South Bay Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near So Lake Tahoe, California, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 May 2001 at 23:50

Classification

Accident

Location

So Lake Tahoe, California, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Tahoe (TVL)

Coordinates

38.8939, -119.9953

Aircraft

Beechcraft E33A

Registration

N464SR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

South Bay Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

So Lake Tahoe → San Jose

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01LA177

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper aircraft handling and decision to prematurely raise the landing gear during takeoff. Contributing factors were his lack of experience taking off under the high density altitude condition and his improper maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the pretakeoff check, the pilot observed that a mechanical malfunction existed with the vernier control button on the throttle knob. It had partially unscrewed. The pilot attempted to remedy the situation by screwing the knob back into place, and then he commenced the takeoff. The airplane was loaded at or within 240 pounds of its certificated maximum gross weight, and the density altitude was about 7,700 feet. The airplane accelerated, lifted off the ground, and gained about 30 feet. The pilot had not received dual instruction in the airplane in high density altitude procedures, and he was not experienced in this type of operation. Believing that the rate of climb was inhibited due to a downdraft, and with the wings rocking back and forth on the verge of stalling, the pilot retracted the landing gear in an effort at increasing the climb rate. Still dissatisfied with the airplane's inability to climb, the pilot retarded the throttle to abort the takeoff. He then tried to lower the landing gear. When the pilot attempted to increase the throttle to provide more time for the gear to extend, the throttle control knob jammed due to the improperly secured screw. The airplane impacted the runway with partially extended landing gear, and slid to a stop about 1,500 feet before reaching its departure end.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.