Beechcraft V35B N3511V

Summary

On 4 March 2006 at about 01:38 local time, a Beechcraft V35B registered N3511V, operated by Stanley E. Harris, was involved in an accident near Burns, Oregon, United States. 2 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

4 March 2006 at 01:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Burns, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

43.5919, -118.9556

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35B

Registration

N3511V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Stanley E. Harris

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Burns → The Dalles

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA06CA059

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during the takeoff sequence. Factors include his inadequate removal of snow and ice from the wings prior to takeoff, his improper decision to retract the landing gear before it had been positively determined that the aircraft would not settle back onto the runway, and snowy conditions both prior to and during the takeoff sequence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot did not ensure that the snow that had accumulated on the aircraft both prior to and after he began the taxi sequence was fully removed from the aircraft's wings prior to takeoff. During the takeoff, the aircraft did not lift off as it normally does, and the takeoff roll ended up being longer than usual. Once the pilot got the aircraft in the air, it was not climbing at an acceptable rate, so the pilot retracted the landing gear because he thought that action would help the aircraft to climb. Soon after the landing gear was retracted, the aircraft settled back onto the runway, hit a runway light, and then slid off the departure end of the runway onto a snow and ice covered field. According to the pilot, the engine was producing full power and was running very smoothly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.