Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW99LA248

ADA, OK, USA

Aircraft #1

N9576Y

Beech 95-A55

Analysis

The pilot lost control of the airplane during the landing flare/touchdown, and the airplane exited the runway and impacted a hangar. According to witnesses, the airplane's speed during the approach was 'fast.' The pilot stated that the airplane landed on runway 35 and 'veered left for unknown reasons.' The airplane exited the left side of the runway and traveled 500 yards, where it penetrated a steel sheeted hangar door with three-inch steel reinforcements. A person who previously flew with the pilot reported to the FAA that the pilot 'likes to land hot.' It was noted during the post-accident examination of the airframe that two of the three seat guides for the pilot's seat, which secured the seat legs to the seat tracks, were spread open. The center and right seat guides were dislodged from the seat tracks. No other anomalies with the airframe or engines were discovered.

Factual Information

On September 6, 1999, at 1700 central daylight time, a Beech 95-A55 multi-engine airplane, N9576Y, was substantially damaged while landing at the Ada Municipal Airport, Ada, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bedre Nut Company Inc., of Ada, Oklahoma. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the Ada Municipal Airport at 1500. According to witnesses, who observed the airplane on approach to the runway, but did not see the airplane touchdown, the airplane appeared to be "coming in very fast." Another witness, who was located on the airport, stated that he heard "the engines operating at a high rate of speed," but did not see the airplane. According to the record of an interview, conducted by an FAA inspector, a person who had flown previously with the pilot stated that the pilot "likes to land hot." According to the pilot, the airplane landed on runway 35 and "veered left for unknown reasons." The airplane exited the left side of the runway, traveled approximately 500 yards, and contacted a hangar. The pilot stated that he does "not recall clearly the events during the skid from runway to hangar." According to a representative of Raytheon Aircraft Company, who examined the accident site, witness marks on the runway revealed that the airplane touched down "well left of the centerline with the left main tire initially." He stated that the airplane "touched down at an angle to the left of centerline approximately 5 degrees." The airplane exited the runway in a "left arcing turn, crossed three taxiways, and collided with a hangar." The airplane penetrated a steel sheeted hangar door, which was reinforced with three-inch steel framing, and then contacted an unoccupied airplane, which was in the hangar. At 1753, the weather observation facility located at the McAlester Regional Airport, McAlester, Oklahoma, (located 38 miles east of the accident site) reported clear skies, visibility 10 miles, and calm winds. The multi-engine rated pilot had accumulated a total of 4,470 hours, of which 656 hours were in multi-engine airplanes, and 12 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The Beech Baron was examined at the site by an FAA inspector and the representative of Raytheon Aircraft Company. The right wing separated from the airframe outboard of the engine nacelle, and the left wing separated from the airframe approximately eight inches outboard of the flap/aileron intersection. The nose landing gear was collapsed. Control cable continuity was established for all flight control systems. The brakes were tested and operated normally, and no hydraulic fluid leakage was noted. On the pilot's seat, two of the three seat guides (the right and center guides), which secure the seat legs to the seat tracks, were spread open. The right and center seat guides were dislodged from the seat tracks. No other anomalies with the airframe or engines were discovered. The airplane underwent its last annual inspection on September 13, 1998, at 3,167.5 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated a total of 3,213.6 hours.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare/touchdown. Factors were the pilot's excessive approach speed and the partial failure of the seat guides for the pilot's seat.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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