Pilot Debrief

BEECHCRAFT A23-24 near Tell City, IN — 2012-09-19

Final reportCEN12LA649
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Date
2012-09-19
Location
Tell City, IN, USA
Airport
TEL
Aircraft
BEECHCRAFT A23-24
Registration
N3629Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper touchdown point during landing and the resultant runway excursion during the aborted landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he made a straight-in approach to runway 31 after a short flight of about 10 minutes. He stated that there was no appreciable wind during the landing attempt with the wing flaps fully extended. He reported the airplane landed about 1/3 down the runway and that after touchdown he retracted the wing flaps and applied brake pressure in an attempt to slow the airplane. He stated that the airplane did not seem to decelerate normally during the landing roll because of the downslope of the runway. The pilot stated that although there were no anomalies with the airplane’s brake system he elected to abort the landing. He reported that as the airplane passed midfield he increased engine power for the aborted landing. He stated that although the airplane accelerated to liftoff speed while still on the runway, it did not clear a 10-foot high airport security fence located off the end of the runway. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the runway overrun area showed tire tracks consistent with the tire width of the accident airplane. The airplane impacted a chain-link fence located about 340 feet off the end of the runway with the nose landing gear. The postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane brake system that would have prevented normal operation. Landing performance calculations indicated that the airplane should have been able to stop within 1,000 feet of touchdown. Considering that the runway was 4,400 feet long, the pilot should have been able to stop the airplane on the available runway given the known weather and runway conditions.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have used maximum braking during landing attempt.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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