On the Way to 69G

Peter Garrison

Wednesday, June 03, 2009 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A Bonanza pilot experienced a fatal engine failure, crashing short of a small, remote airport he chose for a forced landing, despite passing numerous safer and more suitable options (e.g., highways, open fields) closer to where the power loss occurred.
The NTSB cited undetermined non-mechanical engine power loss and the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain as probable causes, but the article critiques the pilot's decision-making.
The pilot's critical errors included fixating on a distant, barely visible airport, potentially misinterpreting ATC's "nearest airport" information as a directive, and failing to prioritize immediate, safer landing sites.
A significant factor reducing glide distance was the likely incorrect propeller pitch setting (flat/high RPM); correctly setting the propeller to coarse pitch is crucial for maximizing glide performance in an engine-out emergency.

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In June 2006 a Beech B36TC Bonanza, fresh out of annual inspection, lost power while cruising at 5,000 feet on the way from Kalamazoo to Ypsilanti, Michigan. Although conditions were day VMC, the 950-hour pilot had filed an IFR flight plan. He advised the controller of the situation and asked for a vector to the nearest airport.

The controller provided a vector to Carriage Lane, near Gregory, about 30 miles northwest of Ann Arbor. Gregory is a microscopic rural community, and Carriage Lane airport is proportionately tiny; besides, its 1,700-foot turf runway can barely be distinguished from its surroundings. A couple of minutes later, the controller offered another airport: Richmond, 69G, a couple of miles southwest of Carriage Lane. The runway there was turf as well, and equally well camouflaged; but at least it was 2,471 feet long and it was slightly closer.