NTSB Identification: CEN12LA373
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 06, 2012 in Gardner, KS
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/06/2013
Aircraft: BEECH 35-A33, registration: N334Z
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
After an uneventful local flight, the pilot landed and refueled the airplane. The pilot planned to demonstrate a soft field takeoff, departing to the south on the 3,237-foot-long grass runway. The pilot stated that when the airplane lifted off, he leveled it to accelerate in ground effect; however, the airplane did not accelerate as he expected. As the airplane continued along the runway, the pilot realized that the airplane was not going to make it over a fence near the departure end of the runway. The airplane collided with the fence and came to rest in a pasture, resulting in substantial damage to wings. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that could explain the pilot's report of diminished performance during takeoff. Additionally, the pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally during the earlier flight and during preflight engine run-up just before takeoff. The pilot reported that the wind was variable out of the east at 8-10 knots. An automated weather observation recorded 3 miles from the accident site, reported the wind from 120 degrees at 6 knots at the time of the accident. The airport manager reported that the wind had been out of the south just before the accident, but after he was notified of the accident he checked the windsock again and it showed wind from the north-northeast.
Based on the available wind information and the pilot's report of diminished performance during takeoff, it is likely that the airplane encountered a wind shift to a tailwind during the takeoff roll. The pilot stated that he should have aborted the takeoff earlier.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff when the airplane was not accelerating as expected. Contributing to the accident was a wind shift during takeoff.
On June 6, 2012, approximately 1300 central daylight time, a Beech 35-A33, N334Z, registered to KCN Aero Club INC., of Kansas City Missouri, was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence after takeoff from runway 17 at the Gardner Municipal Airport (K34), Gardner, Kansas. The airline transport rated pilot and the airline transport rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The flight was intended to train and familiarize an aero club member in the club-owned Beech 35-A33. After about 1.2 hours of uneventful local flying, the airplane was landed and refueled. After a successful runup with no anomalies noted, the pilot set up to demonstrate a soft field takeoff from the 3,237 foot long grass runway. As the airplane lifted into ground effect, the pilot thought that the acceleration was not as he expected. As the airplane continued, the pilot knew that the airplane was not going to make it over a fence near the departure end of the runway. The airplane collided with the fence and came to rest in a pasture resulting in substantial damage to wings.
Examination of the airframe and engine after the accident did not show any evidence of mechanical malfunction or abnormalities that could explain the pilot's report of diminished performance during takeoff. Additionally, the pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally during the earlier flight and during preflight runup just prior to takeoff.
The takeoff was to the south, heading 170 degrees. The pilot reported that the wind was variable from 090-110 degrees at 8-10 knots. The automated weather report from New Century Airport (IXD), located 3 miles from the accident site, reported the wind from 120 degrees at 6 knots.
The airport manager of K34 reported that he did not see the accident in person. He was sitting in his office when he received a phone call from the tower chief at New Century (IXD) asking if he knew anything about an airplane off the runway. Just before he got the phone call he heard that another aircraft had taken off from runway 8 at Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC). OJC was located 11 miles to the east of K34. He thought that was odd because the wind had been out of the south. He then checked the windsock K34 and it was showing wind from the North Northeast. He estimated that he saw the windsock about 5 or 10 minutes before getting the call from the tower chief from New Century.
On the submitted NTSB Form 6120, Recommendation Section, the pilot stated that if the airplane was not performing as expected, for any reason, the takeoff should be aborted as soon as there was an indication of abnormal performance.
A
Beechcraft 35 Bonanza went down shortly after takeoff this afternoon
near the Gardner Municipal Airport in southern Johnson County.
Photo Courtesy: Johnson County Sheriff's Office
GARDNER,
KS (KCTV) - A plane went down with two people on board near the
Gardner Municipal Airport, an official with the Johnson County Sheriff's
Department said Wednesday.
The plane went down just before 1 p.m. near 183rd Street and U.S. 56 Highway.
When sheriff's deputies arrived on scene, they found a airplane that ended up about 200 yards south of the airport's runway in a field.
Two people were on board the single-engine Beechcraft airplane. One person had minor injuries, but neither was taken to the hospital.
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office said investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration are looking into the cause of the crash.
"We really don't know a lot," said Tom Erickson, spokesman for the sheriff's office. "We know it went through the fence in this field 200 yards from the airport. The FAA is here to take over the investigation to find out why it crashed."
The plane wound up about 150 yards from Debbie Gardner's home.
"I was just sitting in there watching TV," said Debbie Gardner, whose last name is the same as the airport she lives near. "My aunt called and said, 'That makes another plane in our yard.'"
A glider hit the fence behind her residence last year.
"It's something different besides the cows," Debbie Gardner said.
Her husband, Mike Gardner, said he is glad that no one was seriously injured in either crash.
"We've lived here 14 years and the planes come in and out a lot," he said. "They have been as low as the tire touching the trees. You can count the rivets on the planes sometimes."
The plane went down just before 1 p.m. near 183rd Street and U.S. 56 Highway.
When sheriff's deputies arrived on scene, they found a airplane that ended up about 200 yards south of the airport's runway in a field.
Two people were on board the single-engine Beechcraft airplane. One person had minor injuries, but neither was taken to the hospital.
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office said investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration are looking into the cause of the crash.
"We really don't know a lot," said Tom Erickson, spokesman for the sheriff's office. "We know it went through the fence in this field 200 yards from the airport. The FAA is here to take over the investigation to find out why it crashed."
The plane wound up about 150 yards from Debbie Gardner's home.
"I was just sitting in there watching TV," said Debbie Gardner, whose last name is the same as the airport she lives near. "My aunt called and said, 'That makes another plane in our yard.'"
A glider hit the fence behind her residence last year.
"It's something different besides the cows," Debbie Gardner said.
Her husband, Mike Gardner, said he is glad that no one was seriously injured in either crash.
"We've lived here 14 years and the planes come in and out a lot," he said. "They have been as low as the tire touching the trees. You can count the rivets on the planes sometimes."
Master Deputy Tom Erickson PIO
Johnson County Sheriff
Gardner,
Kan. – Just before 1:00 p.m. today, June 6, 2012 deputies responded to
the area of 183rd Street and U.S. 56 Highway to investigate a reported
airplane crash. Deputies discovered an airplane which had come to rest
in a field about 200 yards south of the Gardner Municipal Airport
runway.
There
were two people on board the single engine Beechcraft. One person
received minor injuries. Neither person was transported to the hospital.
Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration responded and are looking into the cause of the crash.
