Weltzien Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wadsworth, Ohio 44281
Saturday, July 12, 1997 12:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The day prior, the engine would only accelerate to 2,000 rpm. After some adjustments, the engine attained the manufacturer's maximum rpm of 2,300. The pilot stated that there were no indications of any malfunctions during the engine run up and the acceleration during take off felt normal. Once airborne, the pilot was unable to reduce the propeller rpm by turning the propeller control knob. He stated that the propeller control knob was pulled out for the remainder of the flight and landing. Maintaining 95-100 mph on short final, the pilot stated that he touched down about one-third of the way down the runway. The pilot applied brakes immediately, but the airplane did not slow down and continued off the end of the runway into a ditch. The pilot stated that the propeller control problem distracted him and that he did not pull the throttle to the idle position. No other mechanical problems were found with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to retard the engine throttle to idle during the landing roll. A related factor was the diverted attention.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/12/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WADSWORTH
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44281
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WELTZIEN AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 15G
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1210
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1767
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 12 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2738V
NTSB Number IAD97LA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model BE-35
Aircraft Series Identifier BE-35
Aircraft Serial Number D-118
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 7068
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT E. NELLIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 664 PEBBLE BEACH DR
Aircraft Owner City AKRON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44333
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 15G
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 21
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 38
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --