# NTSB CEN11LA178: Beech A36, N6XZ, Danville, IL, February 7, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 7, 2011, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Danville, IL - Coordinates: 40.199722, -87.595558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1997&lon=-87.5956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78307 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78307/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78307 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA178 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 A36, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151604), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech A36, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech A36, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while he was in the downwind leg of the traffic pattern he checked for runway contamination and the runway was clear and dry. He stated that his landing approach and touchdown on the runway centerline were uneventful. Approximately 500 feet into the landing roll, he applied right brake pressure, and the airplane immediately entered a right swerve. He stated that he was unable to regain directional control with the full application of left rudder and brake inputs. The airplane continued in the right swerve, departing off the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion, damaging the left wing closeout rib and aft spar. The pilot's statement that airplane continued to track the runway centerline for 500 feet after touchdown, before his first application of brake pressure, suggests that the disk-brake components and rotor were clear of any contamination such as ice and/or snow during the landing roll. Further, if there had been any contamination, the rotational energy at touchdown would have broken loose any ice or snow. A postaccident examination of the airplane's right wheel and disk-brake components did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative On February 7, 2011, at 1030 central standard time, a Beech model A36 airplane, N6XZ, was substantially damaged while landing at Vermilion Regional Airport (KDNV), near Danville, Illinois. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Kahler Automation Corporation, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight plan. The flight departed Fairmont Municipal Airport (KFRM), Fairmont, Minnesota, at approximately 0800 for the cross-country flight. The pilot reported that during the downwind leg for runway 34 he did not notice any ice or snow contamination on the runway. He stated that his landing approach and touchdown on the runway centerline were uneventful. Approximately 500 feet into the landing rollout, he applied right brake pressure and the airplane immediately entered a right swerve. He stated that he was unable to regain directional control with the full application of left rudder and brake inputs. The airplane continued in the right swerve, departing off the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion damaging the left wing closeout rib and aft spar. A postaccident examination of the airplane's right wheel and disk-brake components did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6XZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6XZ), registered now, S/N E-2047, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2047 - Airframe hours: 2055 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-BSF 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Kahler Automation Corporation - Registered owner: Kahler Automation Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2010 - Departed: KFRM, Fairmont, MN - Destination: KDNV, Danville, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KDNV, Vermilion Regional Airport, runway 34, 3,999 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 19, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,050 total, 44 in this make and model, 765 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KDNV ## 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 20110207001359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110207001359A), Feb 7, 2011: Beech A36, Danville, IL, Substantial damage. The aircraft landed on runway 34, slightly to the right of the center line. The aircraft rollout was approximately 300 to 400 feet before the initial skid… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78307. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 2, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357018&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.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.