Eastover Air Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eastover, North Carolina 28301
Sunday, August 15, 2010 9:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff roll, the airplane's nose gear began to retract and the propeller contacted the runway about halfway down its length. Instead of immediately reducing power to abort the takeoff, the pilot pulled back on the control yoke and the airplane became airborne. He initially continued the takeoff, and then attempted to land on a road located near the runway; however, the airplane struck trees and impacted the ground, before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and its fuselage. Post accident examination of the wreckage, which included the landing gear retraction system, did not reveal any anomalies which would have accounted for the nose landing gear retraction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The uncommanded retraction of the nose gear for undetermined reasons and the pilot's improper decision to continue the takeoff after the propeller began to contact the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 950
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Eastover
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28301
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350507N
Event Location Longitude 0784612W
Event Location Airport Eastover Air Ranch
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6NC3
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 160
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 955 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID FBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 244
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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 --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28487
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2011 3:48PM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N792Y
NTSB Number ERA10LA423
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model C24R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number MC-643
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Apr 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 5502
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Clarence B Symond
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Eastover
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28312
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Clarence B Symond
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Eastover
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 28312
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 6NC3
Departure City Eastover
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 950
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EYF
Destination City Elizabethtown
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2011 3:48PM
User who most recently changed record andj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 300
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --