Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to establish a positive climb rate, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees. Factors were a tailwind, the pilot's premature raising of the flaps, and his failure to do a go around.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On May 21, 1994, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Beech A-24-R, owned and piloted by James T. Houser, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at the Hamburg Inc. Airport, Hamburg, New York. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight rules (IFR) plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that arriving at his destination there was no response to his requests for airport information on the advisory frequency. On his first approach to runway 01 he was high and fast. He performed a go-around at 50 to 75 feet and entered the downwind for another approach. On the second approach he touched down about 1/3 of the way down the runway. He tried to brake, but "veered a bit to the right." He retracted the flaps and realized that he was not going to be able to stop by end of runway.
He further stated:
"...[I] feared hitting parked planes or going onto I-90. [I] gave full throttle...[at] end of runway...pulled back on yoke, got over I-90 and traffic, but not above trees. On far side of I-90 went into trees about 15 to 20 feet high."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report stated:
"...The pilot stated that he was somewhat intimidated by the appearance of a deep, steeply sided creek at the approach end of the runway...he touched down approximately half way down the runway, decided he would be unable to stop, fully retracted the flaps, applied full power, and rotated to clear a 4 foot chain link fence at the end of the runway...The pilot stated that there was no malfunction of the aircraft, the engine, or any of the systems prior to the impact...."
The winds reported at an airport, about 15 miles from the accident site, were from 220 degrees at 9 knots.
According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the procedure to follow during a balked landing is to place the carburetor heat to cold, power to full throttle, maintain balked landing airspeed until clear of the obstacles, trim to best rate of climb airspeed and flaps up.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC94LA085