Skyhaven Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rochester, New Hampshire 03839
Wednesday, February 15, 1995 12:37 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED, '...ON CLIMBOUT THE POPPING SOUND BECAME VERY LOUD IN (THE PILOT'S AND PASSENGER'S HEADSETS).... (ABOUT 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL) I DECIDED TO CHECK THE (MAGNETOS).... I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH COUNTER CLOCKWISE TO THE FIRST (MAGNETO) POSITION. THE SOUND DID NOT CHANGE. I RETURNED THE KEY TO THE BOTH POSITION. I THEN TURNED THE KEY TO THE SECOND(MAGNETO) POSITION. THE SOUND DID NOT CHANGE SO I TRIED TO JIGGLE THE KEY...I INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE KEY TOO FAR LEFT AND IT WENT INTO THE OFF POSITION. IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN RIGHT. THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED.' THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR STATED, 'ONLY A SMALL, SNOW COVERED FIELD WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED. DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE FIELD, THE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING, SEVERING THE GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP IN APPROX. 90 FT.' POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED 'WITH ANY FORWARD PRESSURE PUSHING THE KEY IN, THE IGNITION KEY WOULD STICK AND NOT TURN FROM (LEFT MAGNETO) POSITION TOWARD BOTH.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate inflight planning/decision and inadvertently turning the ignition switch to the off position. A factor was the ignition switch stuck in the off position.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/15/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1237
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ROCHESTER
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03839
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SKYHAVEN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6B1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 150
Airport Elevation 323
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 54
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 15 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N812Y
NTSB Number NYC95LA055
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model C23
Aircraft Series Identifier C23
Aircraft Serial Number M-2312
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 10 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 2746
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM RIEHL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 CHESTNUT HILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City AMHERST
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03031
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM RIEHL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 101 CHESTNUT HILL ROAD
Operator City AMHERST
Operator State NH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 03031
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 6B1
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CON
Destination City CONCORD
Destination State NH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 4001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --