Pilot Debrief

Beech 23 near Vaiden, MS — 2019-07-04

Final reportCEN19TA205
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Date
2019-07-04
Location
Vaiden, MS, USA
Airport
3MS5
Aircraft
Beech 23
Registration
N7618R
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's unstable approach and failure to properly configure the flaps during the attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot had conducted a sightseeing flight with three passengers. He configured the airplane with flaps full down for the approach to land on the 2,500-ft turf runway with the airplane near its maximum gross weight. He reported that, due to excessive speed on the final approach, the airplane floated halfway down the runway, and he initiated a go-around. The wing flaps remained fully extended, and the pilot recognized the climb rate was not enough to clear trees at the end of the runway, so he pulled back on the flight control yoke. He then realized that the airplane was in an aerodynamic stall condition and decreased the pitch attitude. The airplane impacted rising terrain about 330 ft beyond the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot’s failure to retract the wing flaps during the go-around likely affected the airplane’s performance and ability to climb.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have initiated go-around earlier to avoid stall.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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