# NTSB BFO90LA018: Beech BE-24, N18733, Martinsville, VA, December 28, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 28, 1989, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Martinsville, VA
- Coordinates: 36.679645, -79.8591 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6796&lon=-79.8591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11574/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA018

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL AND LAND HARD.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS COMPLETING A COMMERCIAL CHECKRIDE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 10 TO 15 FEET ABOVE THE RWY WHENTHE ACFT PITCHED UP AND LANDED HARD COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT SLID OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. ACCORDING TO THE FAA DESIGNATED EXAMINER, THE LANDING APCH APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL THE ACFT PITCHED UP AND LANDED HARD ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR. THE PLT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N18733 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH BE-24
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MC499
- Airframe hours: 1243
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Air Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MTV
- Airport: MTV, Martinsville, runway 30, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 262 total, 32 in this make and model, 201 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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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