Beechcraft C23 N5205M

Summary

On 18 February 2012 at about 15:30 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N5205M, operated by Jimmie E. Meadows, was involved in an accident near Rawlins, Wyoming, United States. 3 people were 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 February 2012 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rawlins, Wyoming, United States

Nearest airport

Rawlins Municipal Airport (RWL)

Coordinates

41.8217, -107.2136

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N5205M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jimmie E. Meadows

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rawlins → Goodland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA110

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the takeoff roll was uneventful and that the airplane became airborne and accelerated to best-rate-of-climb speed; however, the airplane did not climb as expected. The pilot stated that the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) warned of rising terrain off the departure end of the runway and instructed an immediate turn to the right. As a result, at the end of the runway and at an altitude of between 75 and 200 feet above the ground, the pilot began a right turn to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. However, the airplane stopped climbing, and he pitched up until the stall warning horn sounded. He said that he turned to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, and the stall warning horn continued to “chirp.” The airplane began to descend and subsequently touched down in a sagebrush-covered field. The landing on rough terrain substantially damaged the airplane’s right wing spar and wrinkled the fuselage. Review of the AFD revealed that it did not warn of rising terrain off the departure end of the runway: however, it did request that “all aircraft departing runway 28 make right turnout as soon as safety permits after takeoff to avoid housing area and for noise abatement.” It is likely that as a result of the increased pitch attitude, the pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed during the climb, as indicated by the stall warning horn sounding, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and descended to ground impact. The pilot indicated that he did not know if there was a preimpact mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.