Beech H50 accident near Hartwood, Virginia, October 17, 2004
On October 17, 2004 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Beech H50, registered N171S, was destroyed in an accident near Hartwood, Virginia (Hartwood airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with full flaps, and subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2004 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hartwood, Virginia · Hartwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H50 · all H50s on the register
- Registration
- N171S · registry record · serial HH-125
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had not been flown for about 5 years prior to the accident, and was undergoing maintenance in preparation of a ferry flight. A mechanic reported that he had asked the pilot to conduct some engine run-ups as close to full power as possible. The pilot taxied to runway 35, a 2,470 foot-long, 35 foot-wide, gravel and turf runway; where he performed two high speed engine run-ups. The mechanic thought that the pilot was going to perform another run-up, when the airplane accelerated, and lifted off the runway. He noted that it appeared that the pilot departed with full flaps, or at least "more than 10 degrees." The airplane began to climb momentarily, before it rolled left about 90 degrees and descended. The airplane's outboard left wing contacted the ground first, before the remainder of the airplane impacted in a nose down position, about 400 feet to the west of the departure end of the runway. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Flap actuator measurements of the inboard and outboard, right and left flap actuator rods corresponded with a flap extension of 30 degrees. The airplane flight manual (AFM) procedure for "minimum run" and "obstacle takeoffs" was to utilize a 20-degree flap setting. With regards to conducting a go-around, with the flaps fully extended, the AFM stated to retract the flaps immediately to the 20-degree position. The AFM further indicated that most of the lift gained by lowering the flaps was found in the first 20 degrees of travel. The last 10 degrees provided some lift, but caused much drag..." The weather reported at an airport located about 10 miles southeast of the accident site, included clear skies, and winds from 230 degrees at 9 knots, with gusts to 19 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,904 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 5,055 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IGSO-480 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IGSO-480 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 8W8 Hartwood VA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 8W8 Hartwood VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,470 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from RMN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N171S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 NYC05FA006.