ATL97LA038

While on a local flight, the pilot of Beech 23, N2379L, did a number of touch-and-go landings. On his final landing, he heard the pilot of another aircraft reported that they were also in the landing pattern. The pilot of N2379L decided to land long in order to be close to a taxiway, in consideration of the other aircraft. He made a flat touchdown, at which time, he heard a 'crack.' The pilot pulled back on the yoke, and the aircraft porpoised, then settled back to the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft skidded off the side of the runway. A fire erupted from the wheel well, which was extinguished by a hand held fire extinguisher. The cause of the nose gear failure was not determined.

On February 3, 1997, about 1105 eastern standard time, a Beech 23, N2379L, collapsed the nose landing gear during landing at the Kay Larkin Airport, Palatka, Florida. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the local, personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot or his passenger, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Palatka, about 1000, on the same day.

The pilot stated that the airplane was a 1963 model and had been used by a flight school prior to his ownership. The accident occurred during a local flight as the pilot was conducting touch and go landings to runway 35. On his final landing, another flight reported on the UNICOM frequency that they would also be landing on runway 35. The pilot said he extended his approach to touchdown so as to land near a taxiway toward the end of the runway, in consideration of the trailing airplane. He made a flat touchdown, at which time he heard a "crack." The pilot stated he then "immediately pulled the yoke all the way back". The airplane porpoised. As the second touchdown was accomplished, the pilot noted the nose gear was folding under. He eased the nose down, and applied left brake to veer the airplane off the runway. The nose tire caught fire, the pilot said, and the fire burned through the cockpit floor. After evacuating the airplane, the pilot used a hand held fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

Afterwards, the pilot observed that the nose gear had collapsed rearward. A FAA inspector noted there was fire damage to the nose wheel area, and the firewall was damaged from the nose gear failure. The cause of the nose gear failure was undetermined.