Beechcraft A36 N523BL

Summary

On 26 April 2003 at about 20:30 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N523BL was involved in an accident near Jackson, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 April 2003 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

James Rhodes Airport (I43)

Coordinates

39.0033, -82.5769

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N523BL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jackson → Jackson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD03FA050

2 people died.

The flight instructor's improper decision to turn back to the airport at an insufficient altitude after takeoff and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, during a simulated engine failure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses heard the pilot announce over the UNICOM frequency that he would be performing a simulated engine failure after takeoff from runway 01, returning to land on runway 19. Several witnesses observed the airplane depart from runway 01, and enter a "nose-high" climb attitude, until the airplane "stalled," and descended straight-down. One witness observed the airplane enter a stall, and then a continual right bank turn until it impacted trees. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies. According to a pilot who flew with the instructor on the morning of the accident, one of the maneuvers which the instructor emphasized was an emergency landing after takeoff. The pilot stated that they practiced this maneuver twice; once at an altitude of 900 feet, and once at 1,000 feet. After the instructor pulled the power back at the desired altitude, the pilot would pitch the airplane for the "best glide speed," or 80 knots, and bank the airplane "real hard," into a 45-degree bank to return to the airport. Examination of the Beechcraft Pilot Proficiency Program Flight Instructor's Teaching Guide stated that a turn back after power loss on takeoff, should be performed at a minimum altitude of 1,200 feet AGL, and 1.7 to 1.9 nm upwind from the start of a climb. A review of FAA-H-8083-3, Airplane Flying Handbook, revealed: "...If an actual engine failure should occur immediately after takeoff and before a safe maneuvering altitude is attained, it is usually inadvisable to attempt to turn back to the field from where the takeoff was made. Instead, it is safer to immediately establish the proper glide attitude, and select a field directly ahead or slightly to either side of the takeoff path."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.