NTSB Factual Report

On August 29, 2015, about 0830 eastern daylight time, a Beech B19, N2013G, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain near Dexter Regional Airport (1B0), Dexter, Maine. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries and the student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight, operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the flight instructor, the airplane initially departed Old Town Airport (OLD), Old Town, Maine, around 0800. There, he and the student pilot had performed a preflight inspection together with no anomalies noted. The student pilot noted that there was about 43 gallons of fuel in the airplane and drained all three sump points with no evidence of water found in the fuel tanks. The engine oil level was at 6 quarts, which was within limits, as was the drop of engine rpm during the magneto check in the engine run-up.

After taking off from runway 22, the flight proceeded toward 1B0. After about 30 minutes, the airplane overflew the runway, fuel tanks were switched, and the airplane landed uneventfully on runway 34. After landing, the flaps were fully retracted and the carburetor heat was secured. The fuel boost pump remained on.

According to the flight instructor, "We had already calculated the ground roll and 50' clearance and found that we had the length necessary with reasonable margin for error based on temperature, and expected performance and were anticipating to be off the ground in no more than 700' and clear a 50' obstacle by around 1,300'.". After taxiing to runway 25, the student pilot commenced the takeoff roll at the threshold with full power; oil pressure, fuel pressure, and temperature were "normal." In addition, the throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat were checked to be in their correct full forward positions.

According to the flight instructor, with the student pilot at the controls, the airplane lifted off the turf runway, about 600 ft down the runway. The climb was "normal" until about 50 or 60 ft above the runway, and just as the airplane was approaching the departure end the flight instructor noticed that the engine power "suddenly" dropped by 200 rpm, and that the airplane was no longer climbing. The flight instructor took the controls and saw a slight clearing ahead and to the left. He turned the airplane in a 10° bank toward the clearing, and it started slowly sinking into a tree line.

Just before the airplane hit the first tree, the instructor extended the flaps in an attempt to clear it. The propeller was still turning as the instructor heard it cut through the 50-ft tree, although "it could have been wind-milling." The instructor believed the propeller then stopped spinning entirely, the airplane descended into a second tree, and tumbled to the ground.

According to the flight instructor, the airplane was manufactured in 1978. It was equipped with a Lycoming O-320 series, 150-hp, engine. The most recent annual inspection was performed July 21, 2015. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airframe had accumulated 5,168 total hours of operation at the time of the accident. According to the airplane's type certificate data sheet, its maximum gross weight was 2,150 pounds. The flight instructor reported that the airplane's weight at the time of the accident was 2,000 pounds.

The 0853 recorded weather observation at Bangor International Airport (BGR), Bangor, Maine, located about 22 nautical miles southeast of the accident location, included wind from 210° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast clouds at 25,000 ft agl, temperature 17°C, dew point 14°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.17 inches of mercury.

1B0 was located 3 miles east of Dexter, Maine, at an elevation of 533 feet msl. It had two runways designated as 16/34 and 7/25. Runway 16/34 was an asphalt runway, which was 3,008 ft-long by 75-ft-wide. Runway 7/25 was a turf runway, which was 1,250 ft long and 120 ft wide. There were 30 ft-tall trees located about 50 feet beyond the departure end of runway 25.

The airplane came to rest inverted about 400 feet from the departure end of runway 25. The firewall, left wing, and fuselage were substantially damaged. Fuel was noted draining from the wings. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft. One propeller blade remained straight and the other blade was bent aft about 30°. An examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed no obvious mechanical anomalies with the engine.

The carburetor icing probability chart from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention, June 30, 2009, showed a probability of serious icing at glide power at the temperature and dew point reported at the time of the accident.

According to manufacturer published performance information, assuming a takeoff weight of 2,150 pounds, the total ground roll required to take off on a grass surface at sea level with calm wind and a temperature of 15°C was 1,105 ft, and the total distance required to clear a 50 ft obstacle was 1,710 ft. The total ground roll required to takeoff on a grass surface at sea level with calm wind at 25°C was 1,220 ft, and the total distance required to clear a 50 ft obstacle was 1,886 ft.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain during takeoff.