Pilot Debrief

BEECH 58P near San Antonio, TX — 2014-11-20

Final reportCEN15LA053
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Date
2014-11-20
Location
San Antonio, TX, USA
Airport
SSF
Aircraft
BEECH 58P
Registration
N3689L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper decision to land long (past the midpoint) on a wet runway and his failure to conduct a go-around when the airplane did not touch down at the approach end of the runway, which resulted in an overrun.

NTSB narrative

The pilot advised a local air traffic controller that he was inbound on approach for landing. The controller instructed him to circle and then land on runway 14, gave him the wind conditions, and told him that there was "rain on the airport." A witness reported observing the airplane halfway down the runway and still airborne. The airplane subsequently touched down, ran off the end of the runway, and went through a barrier fence before coming to a stop on a service road. The left wing leading edge was crushed when it struck the fence post, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the airplane's brakes had failed. However, the brakes were subsequently tested and operated normally. Examination of the runway revealed evidence of hydroplaning. When informed by the local controller that it was raining at the airport, the pilot should have realized that hydroplaning was a possibility and ensured that the airplane touched down near the approach end of the runway to maximize the available landing distance.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing due to weather conditions and hydroplaning risk.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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