Pilot Debrief

BEECH 19A near Palmer, AK — 2017-08-05

Final reportANC17LA042
Sign in to save
Date
2017-08-05
Location
Palmer, AK, USA
Aircraft
BEECH 19A
Registration
N6523T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the right main landing (MLG) tire impacting a rock and the subsequent loss of directional control and collapse of the right MLG.

NTSB narrative

According to the private pilot, while landing at a remote, unimproved airstrip, the right main landing (MLG) tire impacted a rock. The airplane then began to veer right, and the MLG collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage and horizontal stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right MLG separated near its attachment point. Visual and magnified optical examinations of the fractured surfaces revealed features consistent with a bending overstress fracture. Due to the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain to land, the right main tire impacted a rock, which resulted in the subsequent loss of directional control and collapse of the right MLG.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen a different landing site or inspected the airstrip beforehand.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

Related mishaps