Pilot Debrief

BEECH 58 near Monroe, NC — 2015-03-04

Final reportERA15CA154
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Date
2015-03-04
Location
Monroe, NC, USA
Airport
EQY
Aircraft
BEECH 58
Registration
N50NH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath and failure to perform a go-around once a safe landing could not accomplished, which resulted in a landing area overshoot and runway excursion.

NTSB narrative

The pilot had initially intended to perform a GPS approach to runway 23, into the wind; however, the weather was below minimums for that approach and he then elected to perform an instrument landing system (ILS) approach in the opposite direction to runway 5. While about 100 feet above decision height for the ILS approach to runway 5, the pilot did not have the runway environment in sight and started to make the motions to go-around, but did not increase engine power. He then observed the runway centerline markings and due to excess speed and a tailwind, the airplane floated and landed long. When asked about the touchdown point location and speed at touchdown, the pilot estimated it was about 1,000 feet before the departure end of the 7,001-foot-long runway, at a speed of 85 knots. He applied the brakes, but the runway was wet and he did not feel deceleration. He left the flaps fully extended as the airplane traveled off the end of the runway, coming to rest upright in a grass area. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The recorded weather at the airport, about the time of the accident, included an 11-knot tailwind. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the landing gear and lower fuselage.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have gone around when runway not in sight, but did not increase engine power.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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