N8500A

On September 25, 1995, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-35-A35, N8500A, collided with the roof of a garage while on approach to Sanders Field in Knoxville, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight departed from Knoxville, Tennessee, at 1515 hours.

The pilot stated that he was landing at Sanders Field to get some maintenance performed on N8500A. He abandoned the approach when he realized that the landing and roll out could not be executed safely with the remaining runway. During the climb out phase of the go-around the engine developed a gradual loss of power. The pilot reported that the aircraft quit climbing and collided with a tree, and subsequently came to rest on a residential garage on the departure end of the runway.

Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure. During the subsequent functional engine examination, the engine operated normally. According to the pilot, he did not receive a weather briefing, and he was not aware of weather conditions that were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice (see attached carburetor icing probability curve). The pilot also stated the carburetor heat was only checked, not used, on the approach. According to the aircraft before landing checklist, "if icing conditions are indicated, carburetor heat may be carried, however, less power will be available for a go-around."