# NTSB ATL04LA020: Beech A23-24, N2394W, Beaufort, NC, October 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 2003, 17:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Beaufort, NC - Coordinates: 34.733612, -76.660552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7336&lon=-76.6606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO - 05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58188/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance, and his failure to perform a go-around which resulted in an overrun and on ground collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - runway - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot stated that, as he approached the airport, he had difficulty recognizing the runways. When he realized runway 14 was in front of him, he elected to land on it. The airplane bounced three times and went off the end of the runway into a ditch. A witness stated the airplane came in fast and was about 60 feet above runway 14 when it crossed the intersection with runway 3. The witness estimated the airplane had one hundred yards of runway remaining when the pilot "forced it down." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2003, at 1705 eastern daylight time, a Beech A23-24, N2394W, registered to Hancock Aviation, Inc., and operated by the private pilot, went off the end of the runway and collided into a ditch during landing at Michael J. Smith Field, Beaufort, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot and the passenger reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley, West Virginia, about 1410 on October 18, 2003. The flight initially departed Findlay, Ohio, with a fuel stop in Beckley, West Virginia. The pilot stated that, as he approached the airport in Beaufort, North Carolina, he had difficulty recognizing the runways. When he realized runway 14 was in front of him, he elected to land on it. The pilot stated the airplane bounced three times during landing, and he did not initiate a go-around, because he did not think the airplane would clear the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot stated there was not enough runway remaining to stop the airplane. A witness at the airport reported the airplane was moving "fast" and had not touched down prior to the halfway point of the 4,000-foot runway. A second witness stated the airplane was "really moving" and was about 60 feet above runway 14 when it passed the intersection with runway 3, and he estimated the airplane had one hundred yards of runway remaining when the pilot "forced it down." Both witnesses reported the airplane porpoised, then went off the end of the runway into the ditch of a settlement pond. Examination of the airplane revealed the right side of the nose section sustained crush damage, the propeller was bent, the nose gear was displaced, and the right wing sustained crush damage and was displaced aft at the wing root. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2394W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2394W-2017-02-22), registration cancelled 2017-02-22, S/N MA-8, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A23-24 - Registry model: [Beech A23-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23-24) (registry code 1151226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MA-8 - Airframe hours: 4397.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A2B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David Yu Shen Lai - Registered owner: Hancock Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2002 - Departed: KBKW, Beckley, WV - Destination: KMRH, Morehead City, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KMRH, Beaufort - Michael J. Smith, runway 14, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 817 total, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KNKT, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031018027809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031018027809A), Oct 18, 2003: Beech A2324, Beaufort, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Rated private pilot elected to land down wind with a 11 knot tail wind. Aircraft landed long and fast. Pilot stated trees at end of runway prevented a go… ## Other investigations on N2394W (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI77FEK14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEK14), Mar 19, 1977: Beech A23-24 (N2394W), Findley, OH, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA75FKJ49](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA75FKJ49), Mar 24, 1975: Beech A23-24 (N2394W), Birmingham, AL, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.