Beechcraft A36TC N60WB

Summary

On 26 July 2017 at about 18:40 local time, a Beechcraft A36TC registered N60WB was involved in an accident near Ogden, Utah, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2017 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Ogden, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Ogden-Hinckley (OGD)

Coordinates

41.1747, -112.0189

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36TC

Registration

N60WB

Category

Airplane

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ogden → W. Yellowstone

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR17FA166

4 people died.

A loss of control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot and three passengers departed on a cross-country flight in the turbocharged single-engine airplane. Witnesses saw the airplane during the takeoff and reported that about 3,700 ft down the 5,195-ft-long runway, the airplane was about 100 ft above the runway surface. The witnesses also noticed that the engine sounded "underpowered" and that the tail of the airplane was moving up and down as if the pilot was struggling to keep the airplane airborne. The airplane continued its climbout, and soon after, the pilot communicated to the tower controller that the airplane was "going down." The airplane impacted the right side of a north-bound freeway. Detailed examination of the airplane, engine, and propeller did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation. Given the weights of the pilot, passengers, and fuel onboard, the airplane was near its maximum gross weight about the time of the accident. Additionally, the density altitude was about 6,500 ft. Both of these factors would have resulted in an increased takeoff distance and reduced climb performance, though review of performance data indicated that the runway available was adequately long to accommodate the airplane's predicted takeoff roll (2,109 ft) and distance to clear a 50-ft obstacle (3,401 ft). Although the actual loading of the airplane at the time of the accident could not be accurately determined, including the weight and location of any baggage and the positions of the rear passengers, it is likely that the airplane's center of gravity (CG) was outside of its forward end of the envelope as depicted on a weight and balance worksheet. A forward CG can result in nose heaviness and increased stall speed. The pilot chose to operate the airplane under conditions which would have adversely affected its performance, namely, high gross weight, high density altitude, and with a CG that may have been forward of prescribed limits. Whether the pilot calculated the airplane's weight and balance before the flight and was prepared for the resulting negative effects on its takeoff performance could not be determined. Given the lack of anomalies observed during postaccident examination, it is unlikely that the pilot experienced a loss of engine power or mechanical failure during the takeoff; therefore, the reason for the pilot's loss of control shortly after takeoff could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.