MINEOLA, TX, USA
N2007C
BEECH C24R
A COMMERCIAL PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AFTER ATTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 15 TO 20 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLEAR THE 80 FOOT TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 3,197 FOOT RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD. NONE OF THE FOUR OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN WEIGH AND BALANCE LIMITS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT DID NOT CHECK THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE DATA PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED AT 3,200 FEET.
On August 19, 1993, at 1130 central daylight time, a Beech C24R, N2007C, was substantially damaged during takeoff from the Mineola Wisener Field near Mineola, Texas. The commercial pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned cross country flight to Sulphur Springs, Texas. According to the pilot, following an engine run up, a takeoff was attempted from Runway 35 with the flaps set at 10 degrees. The pilot added that after rotation, the airplane became airborne and attained an altitude of 15 to 20 feet above the runway. During a telephone interview, the pilot further stated that "he did not think that the airplane was going to clear the 80 foot trees at the departure end of the 3,197 foot runway, so he elected to abort the takeoff." Subsequently, the airplane touched down hard on the left main landing gear, collapsing the gear. Control was lost and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. Damage was sustained by the leading edge and underside of the left wing, and the engine mounts and firewall. Weight and balance calculations were performed using figures provided by the pilot. At the time of the accident, the airplane was found to be 188 pounds below its maximum weight for takeoff. The pilot did not check the aircraft performance data prior to departure, since he had "previously made similar flights in the same aircraft configuration." On the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot describes the weather as "humid and hot." The density altitude was calculated at 3,200 feet.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN THE REQUIRED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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