Mastery Flight Training, Inc. 

Beech Weekly Accident Update archives

March 2009 Reports

Official information from FAA and NTSB sources (unless otherwise noted).  Editorial comments (contained in parentheses), year-to-date summary and closing comments are those of the author.  All information is preliminary and subject to change.  Comments on preliminary topics are meant solely to enhance flying safety.  Please use these reports to help you more accurately evaluate the potential risks when you make your own decisions about how and when to fly.  Please accept my sincere personal condolences if anyone you know was in a mishap. I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.  Fly safe, and have fun!

©2009 Mastery Flight Training, Inc.  All Rights Reserved

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

2/28 1730Z (1230 local):  A Be24’s nose gear collapsed on landing at Ypsilanti, Michigan’s Willow Run Airport.  Two aboard the “pleasure” flight were unhurt and damage to the Sierra is “minor”.  Weather was “clear and 10” with a 12-knot wind.  N9152S (MC-399) is a 1975 B24R registered since 1993 to a corporation in Livonia, Michigan.

(“Gear collapse on landing”)

3/3 1800Z (1100 local):  The left main wheel of a Be23 failed on landing at Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Two aboard the “training” flight avoided injury despite “substantial” aircraft damage.  Weather was “clear and 10” with a five-knot surface wind.  N23845 (M-1997) is a 1977 C23 registered to a Santa Fe-based corporation since 2007.

(“Wheel/strut failure on landing—fixed gear airplane”; “Substantial damage”; “Dual instruction”)

3/4 1400Z (0800 local):  A Be36 crashed “under unknown circumstances” two miles from Athens, Texas.  The solo pilot suffered “minor” injuries and the extent of damage is “unknown”.  Weather conditions were “not reported”.  N5470V (E-1712) is/was a 1980 A36 recently (May 2008) registered to a corporation in Dallas, Texas.

(“Crash/unknown”; “Recent registration”—local news reports:

The aircraft is believed to have been stolen from the Athens airport…. Authorities took a suspect into custody just hours later, reportedly when he returned to the airport to get his maroon pickup truck after the plane crashed.  [The suspect], 28, was taken to East Texas Medical Center Athens and treated for minor injuries before being booked into jail on a charge of theft of property over $200,000.

[An FBO owner] called the plane’s owner when [he] began to suspect the plane was being stolen…. [H]e saw the suspect unlock the plane’s door and go through a preflight check.  However, when the man tried to start the engine, it didn’t catch after three tries. The man then left, but later returned and succeeded in getting the engine started….  The pilot didn’t go to the far end of the runway to take off, but began his run at the T, which was near the ramp….  The plane came…down about three miles away from the airport, crash-landing in [a] stand of trees….  Law enforcement officers came out to the airport to question [the witness] about what he saw, and while they were there, [he] noticed someone getting into the truck on the ramp and driving away.  After a short chase, officers returned to the airport with the suspect in custody.

3/5 1810Z (1310 local):  While landing at Bay Bridge Airport, Stevensville, Maryland, a Be35 “went off the right side of Runway 11.”  The lone pilot was not hurt and damage is “minor”.  Weather was “unknown”.  N8642M (D-7251) is a 1963 P35 registered since 1986 to an individual in Ocala, Florida.

(“Loss of directional control on landing”)

UPDATES FROM NTSB: Events previously appearing in the Weekly Accident Update:

**2/17 H35 engine failure within a mile of departing the airport at at Grain Valley, MO.  “An examination of the airplane's engine and engine driven fuel pump revealed ‘foreign matter under the pressure relief valve’, which allowed ‘fuel to bypass’ the carburetor and return to the fuel tank instead.”**

UPDATE

Concerning the recent P35 gear collapse at Stevensville, Maryland, a local reader writes:

The P35 [in the recent] report belongs to neighbor of mine. He had a right-hand main gear strut break just above the torque link attach point, which allowed the wheel to turn about 45 degrees to the right.  This is what pulled him off the runway. He reported the landing as being normal until the right-hand strut collapsed and then the pull to the right. I have seen some pictures but so far I'm at a loss as to the possible cause of the failure. He is currently taking the entire strut out of the aircraft and I will have an opportunity to have a look at it. I'll pass on my thoughts.

(Change “Loss of directional control on landing” to “Gear collapse—strut failure”.  Thanks, reader, for your update!)

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

3/12 0106Z (1906 local 3/11/2009): On takeoff, a Be58’s tire “blew out” and a propeller struck the runway, at Durango, Colorado.  Two aboard the Baron were unhurt; aircraft damage is “minor”.  Weather was “VFR”.  N8245H (TH-1635) is a 1991 Baron 58 registered since 1993 to a pilot training organization in Farmington, New Mexico.

(“Blown tire on takeoff”—although nothing specifically says it’s the case, it may be the blown tire resulted from side-loads or overly aggressive braking during a simulated engine failure on what was most likely a multiengine training flight).

3/15 1515Z (1115 local):  A Be24’s engine failed and the Sierra “landed short of the runway and struck a fence,” at Bellefontaine, Ohio.  Two aboard report no injury despite “substantial” aircraft damage.  Weather conditions were “not reported”.  N9348S (MC-350) is a 1975 B24R registered since 2004 to an individual in Ada, Ohio.

(“Engine failure in flight”; “Substantial damage”—perhaps future NTSB reports will shed more light on the cause of the failure, and whether the airplane was landing at Bellefontaine, taking off, or cruising overhead when the engine quit).

3/16 1800Z (1200 local):  A Be35’s gear collapsed on landing at Taos, New Mexico.  The solo pilot was unhurt; damage is “minor” and weather conditions were “not reported”.  N342R (D-3422) is a 1953 D35 registered since 2007 to an individual in Taos.

(“Gear collapse on landing”)

UPDATES FROM NTSB: Events previously appearing in the Weekly Accident Update:

**There are no new NTSB reports involving piston Beechcraft this week.**

UPDATE

Concerning the recent P35 landing gear collapse at Stevensville, Maryland that was updated last week, information from the scene is that the airplane landed short of the runway in six to eight inches of snow, and the landing gear strut broken as the airplane encountered the runway.

(Change “Gear collapse—strut failure” to “Landed short”.)

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

3/18 1633Z (1133 local):  A Be33’s gear collapsed on landing at Dallas, Texas.  The two aboard were unhurt; damage is “minor” and the weather was “VFR”.  N670DC (CD-343) is a 1961 A33 registered since 2001 to a corporation in Dallas.

(“Gear collapse on landing”)

3/20 0135Z (2135 local):  A Be33 landed gear up at Bowling Green, Kentucky.  Two aboard the “pleasure” flight avoided injury and damage was “minor”.  Weather was “clear and 10” with a five-knot wind.  N1522S (CD-503) is a 1962 B33 registered since 2005 to a Bowling Green-based corporation.

(“Gear up landing”)

3/21 2016Z (1516 local):  A Be19 “stalled” on takeoff.  The Sport “bounced and struck [its] prop[eller],” at Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  The solo pilot was unhurt despite “substantial” damage.  Weather conditions were “clear and 10” with calm winds.  N9309S (MB-766) is a 1975 B19 registered to an Eden Prairie-based corporation since 2005.

3/21 2131Z (1631 local):  A Be36 crashed “under unknown circumstances” in a residential neighborhood in Laredo, Texas.  The pilot and two passengers are reported to have “minor” injuries; the Bonanza has “unknown” damage.  Weather was “few clouds” at 4500, 6500 scattered, with visibility nine miles and a surface wind at 14 gusting to 22 knots.  N8120R (E-583) is a 1974 A36 registered since 2005 to a corporation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

(“Crash/unknown”; “Substantial damage” based on media reports, “Wind”—Local TV shows the airplane impacted flat, wheels up, and the engine bent or compressed the firewall and presumably the instrument panel since the pilot and front-seat passenger had to be extricated from the wreckage by a resident.)

UPDATES FROM NTSB: Events previously appearing in the Weekly Accident Update:

**There are no new NTSB reports involving piston Beechcraft this week.**

SUMMARY: Reported Hawker Beechcraft piston mishaps, year-to-date 2008:

Total reported:  34 reports 

Operation in VMC: 22 reports    

Operation in IMC:    1 report  

Weather “unknown” or “not reported”:  11 reports

Operation at night:  7 reports 

Surface wind > 15 knots:  4 reports           

Fatal accidents: 2 reports  

“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports 

“Substantial” damage: 12 reports  

Aircraft “destroyed”:   1 report  

Recent registration (within previous 12 months):  4 reports  

(Note: FAA preliminary reports no longer identify the purpose of the flight involved in mishap.  Consequently the number and percentage of Beech mishaps that occur during dual instruction will become less and less accurate over time.  Since the late 1990s the percentage of Beech mishaps that take place during dual flight instruction has remained very consistently about 10%). 

By Aircraft Type:

Be35 Bonanza   8 reports

Be36 Bonanza   8 reports 

Be24 Sierra  4 reports

Be55 Baron  3 reports  

Be58 Baron  3 reports   

Be19 Sport  2 reports

Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 3 reports

Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner  1 report

Be50 Twin Bonanza  1 report

Be60 Duke   1 report 

PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE (all subject to update per NTSB findings):

LANDING GEAR-RELATED MISHAPS (18 reports) 

Gear up landing

8 reports (two Be24s; Be33; two Be35s; two Be36s; Be50)

Gear collapse (landing)

8 reports (Be24; two Be33s; two Be35s; Be36; Be55; Be58)

Gear collapse—retract rod failure after improper installation

1 report (Be36)

Failure of landing gear to extend due to mechanical failure

1 report (Be60)

...for more on Landing Gear-Related Mishaps see these data and this commentary. 

ENGINE FAILURE   (5 reports) 

Engine failure in flight

3 reports (Be19; Be24; Be35)

Piston/cylinder failure in flight

1 report (Be35)

Engine failure on takeoff

1 report (Be35)

...for more on fuel management-related mishaps see www.thomaspturner.net/Fuel.htm.  

IMPACT ON LANDING  (3 reports) 

Loss of directional control on landing

1 report (Be19)

Hard landing—airframe ice

1 report (Be58)

Landed short

1 report (Be35)

CAUSE UNKNOWN  (3 reports)  

Takeoff/Unknown

1 report (Be19)

Crash/Unknown

2 reports (both Be36s)

MISCELLANEOUS  (2 reports)

Wheel/strut failure on landing—fixed gear airplane

1 report (Be23)

Blown tire on takeoff

1 report (Be58)

CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN   (1 report)

Airframe ice in cruise—unable to maintain altitude

1 report (Be36)

IMPACT WITH OBJECT DURING TAKEOFF   (1 report) 

Loss of directional control during takeoff—strong, gusty wind

1 report (Be55)

LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT   (1 report) 

Loss of control: Attempted visual departure in IMC

1 report (Be36)

STALL/SPIN  (1 report)

Stall/loss of control during go-around

1 report (Be55)

Recognize an N-number?  Want to check on friends or family that may have been involved in a cited mishap?  Click here to find the registered owner.   

Please accept my sincere personal condolences if you or anyone you know was involved in a mishap.  I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.  Fly safe, and have fun!

Thomas P. Turner, M.S. Aviation Safety, Master CFI

2008 FAA Central Region CFI of the Year

Mastery Flight Training, Inc.

mastery.flight.training@cox.net

There's much more aviation safety information at www.thomaspturner.net.

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