St Cloud Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St Cloud, Minnesota 56304
Thursday, May 17, 2001 11:48 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain following an in-flight loss of right engine power on initial climb out. The pilot sustained serious injuries. In an interview, a witness stated that on takeoff the airplane, "all of a sudden began to bank, like it was going to make a turn and head north. The plane then inverted and then the right wing began to dip under. The plane then went straight down into the wooded area next to the runway." The pilot said, "Starboard engine failed on takeoff (downwind engine) with gear [and] flaps down. At an altitude of 100-200 ft engine failed. As pressure to port rudder was applied and attempting to place fuel selector switch in ALT fuel position, A/C violently departed to the right. (rolled)" The pilot said, "I tried to re-start the right engine but had no time." The airplane's flight manual states: " Where practicable, the emergencies requiring immediate corrective action are treated in check list form for easy reference and familiarization. ... ENGINE FAILURE AFTER LIFT-OFF AND IN FLIGHT An immediate landing is advisable regardless of take-off weight. ... Continued flight requires immediate pilot response to the following procedures. 1. Landing Gear and Flaps - UP 2. Throttle (inoperative engine) - CLOSED 3. Propeller (inoperative engine) - FEATHER 4. Power (operative engine) - AS REQUIRED 5. Airspeed - MAINTAIN SPEED AT ENGINE FAILURE (99 KTS (114 MPH) MAX.) UNTIL OBSTACLES ARE CLEARED After positive control of the airplane is established: 6. Secure inoperative engine: ... NOTE The most important aspect of engine failure is the necessity to maintain lateral and directional control. If airspeed is below 80 kts (92 mph), reduce power on the operative engine as required to maintain control. ... CAUTION The pilot should determine the reason for engine failure before attempting an air start." An on-scene investigation was conducted. No anomalies were found. The right engine produced full power during a test run.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the loss of right engine power during initial climb. Factors were the loss of right engine power for an undetermined reason, the pilot not complying with flight manual emergency procedures, and the trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/2001
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1148
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City St Cloud
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56304
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport ST CLOUD MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID STC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 1024
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID STC
Elevation of weather observation facility 1024
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 24
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.81
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KSTC 171653Z AUTO 26020G24KT 10SM CLR 22/04 A2981=
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11860
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 17 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2002 10:15AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Minneapolis, MN, FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N633K
NTSB Number CHI01FA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 95-C55
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number TE-198
Certified Max Gross Weight 5324
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 9 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 3743
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Fleming Aircraft Sales
Aircraft Owner Street Address Fleming Field, NBU 192, Box 5
Aircraft Owner City South Saint Paul
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55075
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 STC
Departure City St Cloud
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1148
Departure Time Zone UTC
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 10D
Destination City WINSTED
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 24 2002 3:43PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 5200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --