CHI94LA228

Factual narrative

On July 9, 1994, at 1057 central daylight time, a Beech BE-58 airplane, N6404Z, sustained substantial damage when it departed the end of runway 13 while landing at the Oelwein Municipal Airport in Oelwein, Iowa. The private pilot and three passengers aboard sustained no injuries. The personal flight departed the Jeffco Airport in Denver, Colorado about 0700 mountain daylight time and was conducted under CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the accident airport and an IFR flight plan was filed. The pilot conducted the en route portion of the flight in instrument meteorological conditions. Descending through 3,000 feet he acquired visual meteorological conditions, cancelled IFR with Waterloo Approach Control, and proceeded to the Oelwein Municipal Airport under VFR. The pilot reported he had planned an instrument approach to runway 13. He attempted to obtain an airport advisory on the unicom frequency with no response. He said he used full flaps and landed on the wet runway with a tailwind. The automated weather observation system on the airport reported the winds were 290 degrees at 11 knots about the time of the accident. A standard wind sock and wind tee were located on the north side of the field. During a telephone interview, an employee of Connel Aviation, a local fixed-base operator (FBO), stated they were monitoring the unicom frequency and did not hear the request for an airport advisory. He said the aircraft landed long and it porpoised during the landing. An Officer from the Oelwein Police Department reported two skid marks on the runway, "from the airplanes landing gear", and estimated the length of the marks to be several hundred feet. He administered a preliminary breath test (PBT) to the pilot which yielded a result of .000. The pilot reported he flew in instrument meteorological conditions en route to the destination airport. He had planned an instrument approach to runway 13. Descending through 3,000 feet he encountered visual conditions, cancelled IFR, and flew a visual arrival to runway 13. He requested an airport advisory on the unicom frequency with no response. The pilot said he landed with a tailwind on the wet runway. Winds were from 290 degrees at 11 knots. A witness saw the airplane land long and porpoise during the landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12