Shoshone Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Shoshone, California 92384
Thursday, January 22, 2004 12:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with the ground during takeoff, and came to rest inverted. A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a private pilot undergoing familiarization training in the airplane had flown to the airport earlier on the day of the accident. Prior to the accident takeoff, the windsock was indicating variable winds from 290 degrees. The CFI and the student had a brief discussion about downhill and downwind takeoffs. After a preflight, they taxied to the runway. The airplane did not accelerate as expected, and the remaining runway was insufficient to abort. The CFI said he continued the takeoff and "forced the aircraft to fly at a very low airspeed." The airplane was at a very high angle of attack and the CFI realized the airplane would not accelerate so he extended the flaps to 15 degrees to lower the stall speed. In spite of efforts to regain flying speed, the airplane settled to the ground with the landing gear extended. After touchdown, the CFI reduced the power, and the nose gear collapsed. The tail of the airplane then came over the top, and the airplane came to rest inverted. Other pilots at the airport indicated that the wind had been "on and off" all morning, and had been as high as 15 to 20 knots. The CFI believed that the wind picked up during the time from engine start to the takeoff roll. He did not recheck the windsock. The CFI said that no mechanical malfunctions were noted with the airplane prior to the accident. To prevent future accidents the CFI recommended completing a final check on the wind direction, prior to starting the takeoff roll. The airplane was equipped with a "throw-over" yoke that was positioned in front of the CFI, who was the flying pilot. The runway was 2,380 feet long and 30 feet wide.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the CFI's failure to verify the wind direction prior to takeoff, which resulted in his failure to attain an adequate airspeed and led to an inadvertent stall-mush. The short runway and variable winds were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/22/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Shoshone
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92384
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355807N
Event Location Longitude 1161610W
Event Location Airport Shoshone Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L61
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15314
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jan 22 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-LAS-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N33HY
NTSB Number LAX04CA104
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model F33A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CE-1260
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pioneer Plumbing, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Las Vegas
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code L61
Departure City Shoshone
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VGT
Destination City Las Vegas
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 6 2004 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --