# NTSB CEN09CA513: Beech A36TC, N336TC, Brighton, MI, August 9, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 9, 2009, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Brighton, MI
- Coordinates: 42.569721, -83.778335
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5697&lon=-83.7783&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74491
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA513
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74491/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74491
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA513

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and compensate for wind conditions during final approach.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N336TC-2017-08-04), registration cancelled 2017-08-04, S/N EA-211, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA-211
- Airframe hours: 2900
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; 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

## 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 20090809020169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090809020169A), Aug 9, 2009: Beech A36TC, Brighton, MI, Substantial damage. During approach to runway 22 the aircraft descended below the tree line to the west of the approach path. The tree line blocked the quartering headwind…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74491. 409 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.