N3361C

Substantial
Minor

Beech F35S/N: D4028

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
NTSB Number
LAX03LA082
Location
Middletown, CA
Event ID
20030207X00181
Coordinates
38.733333, -122.583335
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to attain an adequate takeoff airspeed and failure to abort the takeoff when the lack of acceleration was apparent.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N3361C
Make
BEECH
Serial Number
D4028
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1955
Model / ICAO
F35BE35
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
LEIGH DANIEL R
Address
PO BOX 22
Status
Deregistered
City
MIDDLETOWN
State / Zip Code
CA 95461-0022
Country
United States

Analysis

On February 4, 2003, about 0755 Pacific standard time, a Beech F35, N3361C, collided with a fence and a house during takeoff from a private dirt airstrip near Middleton, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal cross-country flight was en route to Ukiah, California.

The pilot reported that he was flying to work from a 1,600-feet-long private, dirt strip. The run-up was normal and he added power for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, one wheel drifted into softer dirt on the edge of the runway; as a result, the airplane slowed. The pilot maneuvered the airplane back to the runway and realized he was close to a barbed wire fence. He pulled back on the yoke but the main tires hit the top wire. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted a house.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX03LA082