ATL94LA078

NTSB accident investigation · Beech C-23 · Collegedale, TN · April 9, 1994

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 9, 1994, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
Place
Collegedale, TN
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6639CBeech C-23
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 19, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940409000079A
Case key
3368

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions during a crosswind landing. The crosswind was a factor.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in command
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
OverrunLanding - flare/touchdown
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - wire,transmission
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

During a full stop landing attempt, the airplane bounced twice at touchdown and the pilot lost control of the airplane when he encountered a crosswind. The airplane veered off the runway and collided with a utility line and a tree. The nearest weather reporting facility recorded the winds as 140 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot reported the winds at the accident airport easterly at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane.

Factual narrative

On April 9, 1994, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Beech C-23, N6639C, collided with the ground during an attempted landing to runway 21 at Collegedale Municipal Airport, Collegedale, Tennessee. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot and passenger received minor injuries. According to the pilot, the flight departed Cincinnati, Ohio, at 1230 hours.

During a full stop landing attempt, the airplane bounced twice at touchdown and the pilot applied power to start a go around. The pilot confirmed that power was added in an attempt to salvage the landing. He further stated that a gust of wind, approximately fifteen knots, pushed the airplane off the runway, and he lost control of the airplane. The airplane collided with utility lines, a tree, and the ground. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

Aircraft

Registration
N6639C
Reported as
Beech C-23
Category
Airplane
Serial number
M2222
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Acklin, Edward T.
Registered owner
Gear Up Inc.,
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
177 · Cincinnati, OH
Destination
3M3
Airport
3M3 · Collegedale Airport, runway 21, 4,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
54
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
160 total · 40 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CHA, 10 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.