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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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August 10, 1996 · Beech 23 · N1823Q

Wilmot, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 10, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Wilmot, WI
Aircraft
Beech 23
Tail Number
N1823Q
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI96LA288

A certified flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a soft field landing and takeoff to a student pilot. After landing, they back-taxied to the approach end of the 1,480 foot turf runway and initiated a takeoff. After lift-off near the departure end, the airplane hit bushes and would not maintain a positive rate of climb. It then settled into trees and crashed. Using the pilot operating handbook, the ground run on a paved runway was calculated to be 1,276 feet. To clear a 50 foot obstacle after taking off from a paved runway, the required distance was calculated to be 2,211 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

improper planning/decision by the flight instructor (CFI) by failing to ensure that the airplane would be able to clear brush and trees near the departure end of the runway.

Full Narrative

On August 10, 1996, at 1100 central daylight time (cdt), a Beech BE-23, N1823Q, piloted by an airline transport rated flight instructor acting as pilot-in-command during a dual instructional flight, was destroyed when it collided with trees shortly after liftoff from runway 14 (1,480' x 40' dry turf) at the Westosha Airport, Wilmot, Wisconsin. The instructor and student pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight departed Wilmot, Wisconsin, at 1059 cdt. According to the certified flight instructor's (CFI) written statement, he and the student pilot were performing approach turn stall maneuvers and inflight emergency procedures. The student pilot was on her last check out flight for her private pilot's license. He decide to show the student pilot a soft field landing and takeoff at Westosha Airport. The student pilot made the landing, but on departure, "...the plane would not maintain a positive rate of climb and settled into the trees.". According to the student pilot's written statement, she had just made the landing to runway 14, at Westosha Airport and back taxied to the approach end of runway 14. The CFI said he would demonstrate a soft field takeoff. The student pilot stated, "...give full power, we ran the full length of the runway. The airplane had hardly become airborne. We clipped the high bushes at the runway, couldn't maintain altitude...". The IIC calculated the takeoff ground run using the Beechcraft Musketeer A23,A23A Pilot Operating Handbook, at 2,350 pounds with level dry paved surface, 10 knots of headwind to be 1,276 feet. To clear a 50 foot obstacle, it was calculated to be 2,211 feet.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 CDT
Nearest AirportWESTOSHA (0nm)
Runway14
Runway Length1480 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 23
Tail NumberN1823Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4K · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data