CEN13CA129

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 65-B80 · Alexandria, MN · January 11, 2013

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
January 11, 2013, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
Place
Alexandria, MN
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N110BABeech 65-B80
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 18, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
FAA report
20130111000379A
Case key
86004

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 stop the airplane on the downsloping, ice-contaminated runway after landing with a tailwind. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to account for the wind conditions and failure to obtain runway conditions.

Findings · 6

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.

Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationBeech 65-B80: 1 caseAll aircraft: 219 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of conditionBeech 65-B80: 1 caseAll aircraft: 219 casesProbable cause
Wind: tailwindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationBeech 65-B80: 1 caseAll aircraft: 594 cases
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotBeech 65-B80: 2 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Aircraft capability: braking capabilityAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationBeech 65-B80: 1 caseAll aircraft: 57 casesProbable cause

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

About 35 miles southeast of the destination airport, the pilot obtained the local weather information and requested the instrument landing system approach (ILS) to runway 31. Upon descending to the decision height, the pilot saw the runway end identifier lights and continued the approach. The pilot then saw the visual approach slope indicator lights and the runway lights and decided to land. The airplane touched down about 1,000 feet down the 5,100-foot-long runway. The pilot reported that when the tires came in contact with the runway, the brakes alternately skidded then "grabbed" the runway surface. The pilot decided not to go around and to remain on the runway and attempt to stop the airplane. The airplane traveled into the snow-covered terrain off the departure end of the runway where it contacted an ILS antenna pylon, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that the downsloping runway was ice covered and that he landed with an approximate 8-knot tailwind. He reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also stated he had no prior knowledge of what the braking action on the runway would be.

Factual narrative

About 35 miles southeast of the destination airport, the pilot received the local weather information. The pilot requested the instrument landing system approach (ILS) to runway 31. Upon descending to the decision height, the pilot saw the runway end identifier lights and continued the approach. The pilot then saw the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights and the runway lights, and decided to land. The airplane touched down approximately 1,000 feet down the runway. The pilot reported that when the tires came in contact with the runway the brakes would skid, then "grab", skid, and then "grab". The pilot elected not to go around, remain on the runway and attempt to stop the airplane. The airplane traveled into the snow covered terrain off the departure end of the runway where it contacted an ILS antenna pylon, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that the downsloping runway was ice covered, that he landed with an approximate 8 knot tailwind, and there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. He also stated he had no prior knowledge of what the braking action on the runway would be.

Aircraft

Registration
N110BA
Reported as
Beech 65-B80
Category
Airplane
Serial number
LD-279
Engines
reciprocatingLycoming IO-720, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Bemidji Aviation Services Inc
Registered owner
Bemidji Aviation Services Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
MSP · Minneapolis, MN
Destination
AXN · Alexandria, MN
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
AXN · Alexindria Municipal Airport, runway 31, 5,100 × 100 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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
48
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
December 26, 2012
Seat
Left
Flight hours
4,630 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 4,085 as pilot in command · 91 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 7 knots
Visibility
1 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
200 ft overcast
Temperature
34 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
29.47 inHg
Observed at
AXN

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 696 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.