Beechcraft V35 N9569Q

Summary

On 20 November 2011 at about 23:15 local time, a Beechcraft V35 registered N9569Q, operated by Hefron William K, was involved in an accident near Lusby, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 November 2011 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Lusby, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Chesapeake Ranch Airport (MD50)

Coordinates

38.3567, -76.4031

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35

Registration

N9569Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hefron William K

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lansing → Lusby

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA12CA080

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot did not maintain clearance from trees during a night approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, during the night flight, he made an initial pass to locate the airfield and to turn on the runway lights via the radio. He rejected the first approach when he lost sight of the landing area. He visually reacquired the field and began his second approach. During the second approach, he saw the runway lights from the approach end to the departure end and the windsock to the left of the runway. He recalled that he felt that the airplane was slightly low. He stated that, while he was on what he believed was short final, trees appeared in front of the windscreen, and trees limbs and branches began to hit the airplane. The airplane began to severely vibrate and shimmy, so the pilot reduced power and pushed the yoke forward to force the airplane onto the ground. The airplane collided with the ground, and the airframe was substantially damaged.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.