Beechcraft V35B N789WF

Summary

On 4 September 2015 at about 14:50 local time, a Beechcraft V35B registered N789WF, operated by Western Flying Club Inc, was involved in an accident near Wilmington, North Carolina, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 September 2015 at 14:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Wilmington Intl (ILM)

Coordinates

34.2675, -77.9039

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35B

Registration

N789WF

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Western Flying Club Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wilmington → Gainesville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA357

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper loading of the airplane, which resulted in a sudden pitch up during the attempted takeoff, the pilot’s subsequent loss of directional control, and an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot private reported that he filled each of the fuel tanks and loaded the six seat, single-engine airplane with four occupants and baggage before attempting to depart on the cross-country personal flight. During the attempted takeoff, the airplane's nose pitched abruptly upward and turned left. The pilot continued the takeoff as the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane then bounced several times, entered an aerodynamic stall, and subsequently struck the airport perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. After the accident, the pilot was unable to precisely account for the airplane's loading; an estimated calculation indicated that the airplane's total weight was well above, and that its center of gravity (CG) was well aft of, those specified by the airframe manufacturer and the provider of the aftermarket fuel tanks with which the airplane was equipped. Additionally, the elevator pitch trim was found set to a position that would have increased the airplane's tendency to pitch up, especially given its high weight and aft-located CG. The airplane's sudden pitch up during the takeoff roll was likely due to its improper loading and trim configuration, and its lateral departure (left turn) from the intended takeoff path was likely due to a known performance phenomena associated with single-engine airplanes operating at high power and low airspeed at takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.