Pilot Debrief

BEECH B35 near French Lick, IN — 2022-08-28

Final reportERA22FA386
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Date
2022-08-28
Location
French Lick, IN, USA
Airport
FRH
Aircraft
BEECH B35
Registration
N8741A
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to make a stabilized approach, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was returning to his home airport at the conclusion of a cross-country flight and was attempting to make a visual approach to land at night. A review of radar data revealed the airplane overflew the airport about 500 ft above the ground before making a sweeping, descending left turn onto final approach before the data ended 0.2 miles from the end of the runway. At that time, the airplane was traveling at a groundspeed of about 86 knots at an altitude of about 33 ft above ground level (agl). Airport surveillance video captured the airplane on landing rollout. The airplane was observed departing the left side of the runway before it started a climb and impacted trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane and the engine revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical deficiencies or malfunctions that precluded normal operation. The pilot’s autopsy examination and postaccident toxicological findings did not reveal any medical factors that would have resulted in the pilot becoming suddenly impaired or incapacitated. Based on the available radar data, the pilot had not stabilized the airplane during the approach to the runway and was at a critically low altitude when the airplane was .2 miles from the end of the runway. Surveillance video also suggested the airplane was not stabilized after it touched down. Visible tire marks on the runway confirmed that it departed the left side of the runway during the landing rollout. The pilot may have attempted to regain control of the airplane after the unstabilized approach, touchdown, and runway excursion by attempting to abort the landing; however, the airplane subsequently collided with trees. Based on this information it is likely that the pilot performed an un stabilized approach that resulted in a loss of directional control during landing, ultimately resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have executed a go-around instead of continuing the approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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