Beechcraft BE-55 (T42A) N26DS

Summary

On 18 July 2000 at about 23:15 local time, a Beechcraft BE-55 (T42A) registered N26DS was involved in an accident near Chesapeake, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 July 2000 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Chesapeake, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Chesapeake Municipal (CPK)

Coordinates

36.6701, -76.3002

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-55 (T42A)

Registration

N26DS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD00LA063

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's misjudgment of his altitude/clearance above the runway during the aborted takeoff which resulted in an improper flare for landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's premature rotation during the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After applying and achieving full takeoff power, the pilot released the brakes and began the takeoff roll down the runway. The pilot said he perceived a less than 'usual' rate of acceleration, a slight yaw to the right, and decided to abort the takeoff. He reported that he misjudged his altitude, lowered the nose, and struck the nose landing gear on the runway. The nose gear separated, the main gear collapsed, and both propellers struck the runway as the airplane skidded to a stop. Both propellers displayed similar twisting, bending, and chordwise scratching. Examination of the airplane and the right engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. According to the airplane's Operating Handbook, lift off speed for the airplane was 84 knots/97 miles-per-hour. In a written statement and a follow-up conversation, the pilot confirmed that his lift off speed was 87 miles-per-hour. He said that due to the engine conversion performance upgrade, the performance parameters were different from the airplane manufacturer's published numbers. During a telephone conversation, the test pilot for the engine conversion manufacturer stated that the placarded performance figures for the airplane remained the same. He said, '...you just get there a whole lot quicker.' Interpolation of performance charts in the pilot's operating handbook revealed the Accelerate - Stop distance for the airplane that day was 3,500 feet. The departure runway was 4,200 feet long.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.