# NTSB ATL96LA109: Beech 58P, N6461U, Banner Elk, NC, July 20, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1996, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Banner Elk, NC
- Coordinates: 35.219116, -77.630439 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2191&lon=-77.6304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3744/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA109

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed during the approach to land, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the runway for the landing, which resulted in an overrun and collision with a tree.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

Upon arriving in the Banner Elk Airport area, the pilot established a traffic pattern for runway 12. He stated that, due to the high terrain features around the airport, runway 12 was the preferred runway for landings. The airplane touched down about 1,000 feet beyond the approach end of the 4,600 foot long runway. As the airplane rolled toward the end of the runway, the pilot applied heavy braking that resulted in a blown main landing gear tire. The airplane rolled off the departure end of the runway and down an embankment, and collided with a tree. No mechanical problems were reported with the airplane by the pilot.

## Factual narrative

On July 20, 1996, at 1500 eastern daylight time, a Beech 58P, N6461U, collided with trees on the departure end of runway 12 at the Elk River Airport in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under the provisions of  Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at 1400.

Upon arriving in the Banner Elk  Airport area, the pilot established a traffic pattern for runway 12. He stated that, due to the high terrain features around the airport, runway 12 was the preferred runway for landings. The airplane touched down about 1,000 feet beyond the approach end of the 4,600 foot long runway. As the airplane rolled toward the end of the runway, the pilot applied heavy braking that resulted in a blown main landing gear tire. The airplane rolled off the departure end of the runway and down an embankment, and collided with a tree.

According to the BE-58P airplane specification and performance data, at gross weight, the airplane would require approximately 1500 feet of runway for a normal landing roll. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6461U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech 58P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-398
- Airframe hours: 2710
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James A. Heavner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 23, 1996, 266 hours before
- Departed: TDF, ROXBORO, NC
- Airport: 5A7, Elk River Airport, runway 12, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 520 total, 405 in this make and model, 61 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 35 nm away

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.

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