Summary
On June 05, 2009, a Beech S35 (N8636Q) was involved in an incident near Decatur, TX. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: Both pilots' inadequate preflight inspection and failure to identify the presence of dirt and insect larvae in the pitot tube, and the owner-pilot's attempt to turn off the runway and onto the taxiway at an excessive speed during the aborted takeoff.
An annual inspection had just been completed on the airplane and it was flown to the owner's location by a pilot-mechanic. The owner-pilot entered the airplane with the engines running and took control of the airplane from the pilot-mechanic. The owner-pilot then performed a takeoff on a wet, grass runway. The owner-pilot stated the airspeed stopped increasing at about 60 knots indicated airspeed, so he aborted the takeoff. During the abort, the airplane slid on the runway approximately 1,200 feet before the owner-pilot attempted a right turn onto a taxiway. During the turn, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid into trees located near the taxiway, damaging the left aileron. Examination of the airplane revealed dirt and insect larvae in the pitot tube.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN09CA342. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8636Q.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
Both pilots' inadequate preflight inspection and failure to identify the presence of dirt and insect larvae in the pitot tube, and the owner-pilot's attempt to turn off the runway and onto the taxiway at an excessive speed during the aborted takeoff.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
An annual inspection had just been completed on the airplane and it was flown to the owner's location by a pilot-mechanic. The owner-pilot entered the airplane with the engines running and took control of the airplane from the pilot-mechanic. The owner-pilot then performed a takeoff on a wet, grass runway. The owner-pilot stated the airspeed stopped increasing at about 60 knots indicated airspeed, so he aborted the takeoff. During the abort, the airplane slid on the runway approximately 1,200 feet before the owner-pilot attempted a right turn onto a taxiway. During the turn, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid into trees located near the taxiway, damaging the left aileron. Examination of the airplane revealed dirt and insect larvae in the pitot tube. The pilot-mechanic stated he performed a preflight inspection, but he did not inspect the pitot tube.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN09CA342