Beechcraft G-36 N7513

Summary

On 21 June 2013 at about 10:31 local time, a Beechcraft G-36 registered N7513, operated by James E. Smith, was involved in an accident near Pompano Beach, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 2013 at 10:31

Classification

Accident

Location

Pompano Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP)

Coordinates

26.2681, -80.1169

Aircraft

Beechcraft G-36

Registration

N7513

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James E. Smith

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pompano Beach → Tampa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ERA13LA297

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s premature rotation during takeoff with a tailwind and his delayed retraction of the landing gear, which reduced the airplane’s climb performance and subsequently led to the collision with power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, after takeoff, as the airplane was about 100 ft mean sea level and its airspeed was about 60 to 70 knots, he attempted to retract the landing gear. The landing gear would not retract, so he recycled the gear handle, and the gear down-and-locked lights then extinguished. The airplane struggled to gain airspeed, which then decreased to about 60 knots. The airplane subsequently hit power lines and impacted terrain. The flap selector handle was found positioned to the "approach flap" position. Postaccident examination of the airplane, engine, and landing gear system did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; the landing gear was in the in-transit position. A tailwind component of 6.8 knots existed at the time of the takeoff. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the pilot rotated too early during the takeoff with a tailwind and delayed retraction of the landing gear, all of which reduced the airplane's climb performance and led to its inability to clear the power lines beyond the end of the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.