- Date
- June 3, 2009, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place
- Midland, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N33UBBeech F33A
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090603007839A
- Case key
- 73964
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate oversight of the flight by the instructor pilot.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
After takeoff, the private pilot received instruction from a certified flight instructor to proceed to a nearby training area to practice flight maneuvers. Upon returning to the airport environment, the pilot entered the traffic pattern and conducted a simulated electrical failure and a no-flap landing. On final approach and over the runway, the "nose of the airplane pitched up" and the airplane began a rapid descent. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent with the application of full power and the airplane landed hard. An examination of the airplane revealed that the main landing gear was bent, the wings were wrinkled, and the right wing was bent upward at the flap attachment point. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no preaccident mechanical anomalies.
Factual narrative
After takeoff the private pilot received instruction from a certified flight instructor to proceed to a nearby training area to practice flight maneuvers. Upon returning to the airport environment the airplane entered the traffic pattern and conducted a simulated electrical failure and no-flap landing. On final approach and over the runway, the "nose of the airplane pitched up" and the airplane began a rapid descent. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent with the application of full power and the airplane "landed hard." An examination of the airplane revealed that the main landing gear was bent, the wings were wrinkled, and the right wing was bent upward at the flap attachment point. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no mechanical anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N33UB
- Reported as
- Beech F33A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CE-1496
- Airframe hours
- 4,136
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Professional Pilot Program-Midland College
- Registered owner
- Midland Community College District
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- AAIP · May 29, 2009
- Departed
- MDD · Midland, TX
- Destination
- MDD · Midland, TX
- Airport
- MDD · Midland Airpark, runway 34, 3,977 × 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 9, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 250 total · 27 in this make and model · 186 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 24, 2009
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,812 total · 181 in this make and model · 2,717 as pilot in command · 202 in the last 90 days · 47 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Observed at
- KMDD, 8 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 658 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.