Beechcraft A36 N60ED

Summary

On 24 July 2022 at about 18:50 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N60ED was involved in an accident near Ray, Michigan, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 2022 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Ray, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Ray Community (57D)

Coordinates

42.7383, -82.8885

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N60ED

Category

Airplane

Year built

1985

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → South Bend

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA336

3 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s early rotation on takeoff, which resulted in insufficient airspeed and an inability to gain sufficient altitude to clear the trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, when the airplane reached 70 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), he rotated the airplane for takeoff. He pitched the nose of the airplane for the takeoff climb and at 77 KIAS he retracted the landing gear. The airplane drifted to the right, the right wing dipped, and the nose began to pitch down. When the pilot checked airspeed, it indicated 64 KIAS and the airplane felt “sloshy.” The pilot reported the airplane was descending toward the trees at the end of the runway as the stall warning horn sounded. The airplane then collided with the trees and descended to impact with the terrain before a fire erupted. The pilot and passengers were able to exit the airplane before it was engulfed by the flames. The pilot reported the engine rpm’s did not diminish and there were no abrupt changes in power during the takeoff. A witness saw the airplane as it departed runway 28 (2,495 ft long). According to the witness, the airplane rotated about 3/4 of the length down the runway. The witness then saw the landing gear retract and the airplane appeared to struggle to climb. The wings wobbled and the airplane yawed to the right. An examination of the airframe, engine, and turbocharger did not detect any preimpact anomalies. The airplane was modified via supplemental type certificate with a turbocharger that allowed for operation of the airplane at weights above the original airplane’s type certificate design. Using the original manufacturer’s performance chart, takeoff distances and airspeeds are increased, and for the accident flight, the pilot rotated the airplane between 5 to 16 knots early depending on his expectation of a 50 ft obstacle. This early rotation likely rendered the airplane incapable of climbing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.