Event FTW98LA245

Factual narrative

On May 27, 1998, at 1240 central daylight time, a Cessna 320B twin-engine airplane, N986J, was substantially damaged when it impacted two parked, unoccupied, single engine airplanes following a loss of control during a go around at the Aransas County Airport, Rockport, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot seated in the left seat and the pilot-rated passenger seated in the right seat were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Aransas County Airport approximately 1200 and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview conducted by an NTSB investigator on May 29, 1998, the pilot-in-command reported that he was manipulating the controls during the second approach to runway 09 when the accident occurred. He stated that the airplane was not aligned with the centerline of the runway, and he initiated a go around. He first advanced the throttles and then the propeller controls. The airplane began to bank to the left and lose altitude. The airplane impacted the edge of a taxiway with the left wing and slid onto a ramp where there were parked aircraft. The tail of the airplane contacted the leading edge of the wing of a Cessna 172. The airplane then contacted a Cessna 170 and came to rest upright on the ramp. In a written statement received by the NTSB on June 30, 1998, the pilot stated that the airplane was on "short final" at an altitude of approximately 40 feet agl when the decision to go around was made. He further stated that the passenger advanced the throttles, and he "advanced the props, took the controls and raised the nose. The engines seemed to "bog down" and then the right engine seemed to clear first or to produce more power than the left engine." The airplane drifted to the left with the right wing high and the airspeed "bleeding off." The pilot "tried to lower the nose and add rudder to gain airspeed and stop the yaw." However, he "did not have sufficient time or altitude to correct the situation," and the airplane impacted the ground "left wing low and nose first." An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the site. The nose of the airplane was crushed inward. The left wing was bent upwards and to the rear, and the right wing was bent upwards. Both propellers separated from their respective crankshafts. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he reported that he had a total of 15 hours flight time in multiengine airplanes of which 4.3 hours were in a Cessna 320B. Review of the Owner's Manual for the Cessna 320B revealed that the fifth item in the "Before Landing" checklist was "Propellers - High RPM." The twin-engine Cessna 320B airplane impacted two parked, unoccupied, single engine airplanes following a loss of control during a go around. When the airplane was on short final approximately 40 feet agl, the pilot initiated a go around. He first advanced the throttles and then the propeller controls. According to the pilot, the engines seemed to 'bog down' and then the right engine seemed to clear first or to produce more power than the left engine. The airplane began to bank to the left and lose airspeed and altitude. The pilot stated that he 'did not have sufficient time or altitude to correct the situation,' and the airplane impacted a taxiway with its nose and left wing and slid onto a ramp where it collided with two parked airplanes. Advancing the propeller controls to the high rpm position was the fifth item listed in the 'Before Landing' checklist in the Cessna 320B owner's manual. The pilot had a total of 15 hours flight time in multiengine airplanes of which 4.3 hours were in the Cessna 320B. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12