Beech D-45 (T-34B) accident near Linden, North Carolina, April 14, 2011
On April 14, 2011 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Beech D-45 (T-34B), registered N93013, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Linden, North Carolina (Hodgen Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate takeoff performance planning and procedures, which resulted in an attempted takeoff on a grass runway that was not long enough for the given conditions and airplane configuration.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2011 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, North Carolina · Hodgen Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D-45 (T-34B) · all D-45 (T-34B)s on the register
- Registration
- N93013 · no longer on the register · serial BG-85
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot conducted a preflight inspection and a pre-takeoff engine run-up check with no discrepancies noted. He positioned the airplane for takeoff at the end of the grass strip in order to use all of the available runway. The pilot advanced the power and the target rpm was noted as the airplane rolled down the grass strip. The pilot recalled that he rotated about 50 to 60 knots and was about two-thirds of the way down the runway when the airplane climbed about 10 to 12 feet over the runway. The landing gear doors closed and the airplane reached an altitude of about 50 feet; however, both the pilot and passenger reported that the airplane felt like it was not gaining speed or altitude. The airplane started to descend and shortly thereafter impacted a tree stump, tree debris, and the ground. The wreckage examination revealed that the flaps were in the full up position at the time of impact. A review of the airplane’s onboard flight manual, Section III, Normal Procedures, advises pilots that, for a minimum run takeoff, they should “use 75 percent of flaps.” The manual also advises pilots on proper technique, what variables to consider, and instructs them to check performance graph charts for proper takeoff settings and indications. The manual’s performance charts make reference to hard-surface runways but contain no reference to soft (grass strip) field takeoff calculations. The pilot did not mention having performed any calculations for the grass strip prior to the takeoff.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 7,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 24, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,267 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2010; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Linden NC at 12:20 pm
- Destination: TTA Sanford NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Observation at 12:15 pm from HRJ, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA11LA249.