SKAGWAY, AK, USA
N575B
Beech A-35
The certificated commercial pilot, and the pilot rated passenger, were landing at their destination airport. The pilot was flying the airplane from the right seat, and was the sole manipulator of the controls. The airplane's right seat rudder pedals can be stowed against the floor when not in use. The pilot reported the airplane touched down, and about 1/2 down the runway, began to veer to the left. The pilot said the airplane's right side rudder pedals were not locked into an operable position, and he could not control the rudder or nose wheel steering. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, traveled through a fence, and then struck the corner of a residence. No persons on the ground were injured.
On June 23, 1998, about 1335 Alaska daylight time, a Beechcraft A-35 airplane, N575B, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Skagway Airport, Skagway, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by the pilot. The certificated commercial pilot, and the pilot rated passenger, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Whitehorse Airport, Whitehorse, Canada, about 1245. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 23, 1998, at 1428, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 19 at Skagway. He was flying the airplane from the right seat, and was the sole manipulator of the controls. The pilot said the airplane's right seat rudder pedals can be stowed against the floor when not in use. The pilot reported the airplane touched down, and about 1/2 down the runway, began to veer to the left. The pilot said the airplane's right side rudder pedals were not locked into an operable position, and he could not control the rudder or nosewheel steering. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and traveled through a fence. It struck a support pole for a satellite dish, and then struck the corner of a residence. No persons on the ground were injured. The residence received minor damage.
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to ensure the rudder pedals were locked in an operable position.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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