Beechcraft C23 N377TT

Summary

On 20 July 2013 at about 15:30 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N377TT, operated by Harold Cooper, was involved in an accident near Augusta, Kansas, United States. 2 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

20 July 2013 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Augusta, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Airpark Estates (20KS)

Coordinates

37.6758, -96.8853

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N377TT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Harold Cooper

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Augusta → El Dorado

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13CA423

Nobody was injured.

The pilot did not obtain adequate airspeed and clearance from obstructions during a grass field takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and student pilot were performing a soft field takeoff from a 2,340 foot grass runway. During the takeoff the airplane did not accelerate as expected. The flight instructor stated that the airplane lifted off, but the trees at the end of the runway were approaching quickly. The instructor then made a slight turn, aiming for some shorter trees to the right. The airplane did not climb out of ground effect and struck a barbed wire fence. The airplane then impacted the ground just beyond the fence and came to a stop in the upright position. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and wings. A review of the airplane’s Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) indicated from grass field, no wind, flaps up, 2000 feet mean sea level, and 88 degree Fahrenheit, the airplane would have a 1,700 foot ground roll and would need 2,827 feet to clear a 50 foot obstacle. The instructor added that the airplane did not perform as the POH indicated. Based on a soft field takeoff technique of having flaps extended and nose high attitude, it’s likely the airplane did not reach the grass field performance data indicated in the POH. The soft field, nose high attitude and an over rotation of the nose, to compensate for the rapidly approaching runway end, likely degraded the airplane’s takeoff performance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.