Beechcraft A36 N978TL

Summary

On 17 October 2007 at about 19:02 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N978TL was involved in an accident near Glenpool, Oklahoma, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 October 2007 at 19:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Glenpool, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

35.9858, -96.0003

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N978TL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tulsa → Sugarland

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08FA015

5 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after departure, which resulted in a collision with power lines. A factor was the high winds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot borrowed a friend's airplane and topped it off with fuel prior to departing on a cross country flight with four passengers. The pilot also obtained a weather briefing and was aware of the high winds that existed at the airport and that moderate turbulence was forecasted along his route of flight. After he departed, several witnesses reported that the airplane was having difficulty climbing and maintaining control. The airplane collided with a row of unmarked power lines located about 3.4 miles south of the runway; caught on fire, then fell to the ground, and burned. An estimated weight and balance calculation revealed that the airplane was under its published maximum gross weight (3,600 pounds) by approximately 130.5 pounds, and was within the center of gravity limitation for takeoff and slightly aft of the allowable center of gravity limits for landing at the intended destination. Examination of the engine and the airframe revealed that there were no mechanical deficiencies, and damage to the propeller blades was consistent with the propeller rotating under a condition of high power at the time of impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.