- Date
- August 9, 2009, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place
- Brighton, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N336TCBeech A36TC
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 19, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090809020169A
- Case key
- 74491
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 failure to maintain airspeed and compensate for wind conditions during final approach.
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
During the landing, the airplane impacted terrain approximately 400 feet short of threshold for runway 22. The pilot reported, "I got too slow on approach and fell into a slower wind pocket which [decreased] my lift." The pilot attempted to add engine power, however, the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot estimated the wind was from 260 degrees at 20 to 40 knots and gusting. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Examination of the airplane revealed the main landing gear struts punctured the top of both wings. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane.
Factual narrative
During the landing, the airplane impacted terrain approximately 400 feet short of threshold for runway 22. The pilot reported, "I got too slow on approach and fell into a slower wind pocket which [decreased] my lift." The pilot attempted to add engine power, however, the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot estimated the wind was from 260 degrees at 20 to 40 knots and gusting. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Examination of the airplane revealed the main landing gear struts punctured the top of both wings. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N336TC
- Reported as
- Beech A36TC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- EA-211
- Airframe hours
- 2,900
- Engine
- Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wharton Howard
- Registered owner
- Wharton Howard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 30, 2009
- Departed
- OZW · Howell, MI
- Destination
- 45G · Brighton, MI
- Airport
- 45G · Brighton Airport
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 13, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,366 total · 1,863 in this make and model · 6 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 20 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 88 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 409 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.