# NTSB CEN09CA213: Beech 58, N8245H, Durango, CO, March 12, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 11, 2009, 19:06 local (Mar 12, 2009, 01:06 UTC) - Place: Durango, CO - Coordinates: 37.150833, -107.75222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1508&lon=-107.7522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73498 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73498/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA213 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 58, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 58, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 58, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 58, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff in the twin-engine airplane, the flight instructor announced a simulated engine failure and expected the student pilot to land on the remaining runway. The student pilot responded by reducing both engines to idle power, but did not pitch the airplane's nose down enough to maintain sufficient airspeed. The flight instructor responded by lowering the airplane's nose to the proper attitude before releasing the controls. Moments later the flight instructor realized that the student pilot was not arresting the rate of descent and was unable to react in time to prevent a hard landing. The airplane's fuselage and right wing sustained structural damage during the accident. ## Factual narrative Shortly after takeoff in the twin-engine airplane, the flight instructor announced a simulated engine failure and expected the student pilot to land on the remaining runway. The student pilot responded by reducing both engines to idle power, but did not pitch the airplane's nose down enough to maintain sufficient airspeed. The flight instructor responded by lowering the airplane's nose to the proper attitude before releasing the controls. Moments later the flight instructor realized that the student pilot was not arresting the rate of descent and was unable to react in time to prevent a hard landing. The airplane's fuselage and right wing sustained structural damage during the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8245H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8245H-2012-12-19), registration cancelled 2012-12-19, S/N TH-1635, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 58 - Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TH-1635 - Airframe hours: 14224 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: San Juan Pilot Training Inc - Registered owner: San Juan Pilot Training Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 21, 2008 - Departed: DRO, Durango, CO - Destination: DRO, Durango, CO - Airport: DRO, Durango-La Plata County, runway 21, 9,201 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 2,750 total, 80 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 226 total, 5 in this make and model, 159 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg ## 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 20090311001949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090311001949A), Mar 11, 2009: Beech 58, Durango, CO, Substantial damage. On 3/11/09 at 1906 MST a BE-58 N8245H was substantially damaged when it hard landed during flight instruction. The instructor and PIC were performing a double… ## Other investigations on N8245H (1) 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 FTW02LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA189), Jun 23, 2002: Beech BE-58 (N8245H), Farmington, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the nose landing gear plunger assembly due to fatigue. 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.