CEN15LA053

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 58P · San Antonio, TX · November 20, 2014

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 20, 2014, 12:52 local (18:52 UTC)
Place
San Antonio, TX
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3689LBeech 58P
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 23, 2015
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20141120022509A
Case key
90410

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 decision to land long (past the midpoint) on a wet runway and his failure to conduct a go-around when the airplane did not touch down at the approach end of the runway, which resulted in an overrun.

Findings · 4

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: wet surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to conditionBeech 58P: 1 caseAll aircraft: 141 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationBeech 58P: 1 caseAll aircraft: 141 casesProbable cause
Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotBeech 58P: 1 caseAll aircraft: 792 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

The pilot advised a local air traffic controller that he was inbound on approach for landing. The controller instructed him to circle and then land on runway 14, gave him the wind conditions, and told him that there was "rain on the airport." A witness reported observing the airplane halfway down the runway and still airborne. The airplane subsequently touched down, ran off the end of the runway, and went through a barrier fence before coming to a stop on a service road. The left wing leading edge was crushed when it struck the fence post, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the airplane's brakes had failed. However, the brakes were subsequently tested and operated normally. Examination of the runway revealed evidence of hydroplaning. When informed by the local controller that it was raining at the airport, the pilot should have realized that hydroplaning was a possibility and ensured that the airplane touched down near the approach end of the runway to maximize the available landing distance.

Factual narrative

On November 20, 2014, at 1252 central standard time, a Beech 58P, N3689L, landed long and went off the end of the runway at Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), San Antonio, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Wiley Post Airport (PWA), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 1059, and was en route to SSF.At 1247, the pilot advised local control that he was 4 miles south of the airport and inbound on approach for landing. The controller instructed the pilot to circle and land on runway 14. He was given the wind conditions and told that there was "rain on the airport." A witness observed the airplane halfway down the runway and still airborne. The airplane touched down, ran off the end of the runway, and went through a barrier fence before coming to a stop on a service road. The left wing leading edge was crushed when it struck a fence post. The nose landing gear had collapsed. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that his brakes had failed. The brakes were later tested and found to operate normally. Examination of the runway revealed evidence of hydroplaning. One minute after the accident, the following weather observation was made at SSF: Wind, 270 degrees at 3 knots; visibility, 2 miles, heavy rain; ceiling, 1,600 feet overcast; temperature 18° Celsius (C.); dew point, 15° C.; altimeter, 30.06; Remarks, rain ended 5 minutes past the hour, rain began 49 minutes past the hour.

Aircraft

Registration
N3689L
Reported as
Beech 58P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
TJ-302
Built
1980
Engines
Continental TSIO-520-L, 325 horsepower, reciprocatingContinental TSIO-520-L, 325 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Rogers, Kenneth
Registered owner
Rogers, Kenneth
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
KPWA · Oklahoma City, OK
Destination
KSSF · San Antonio, TX
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
SSF · Stinson Municipal, runway 14, 4,128 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system

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
80
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
7,000 total · 650 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 3 knots
Visibility
2 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,600 ft overcast
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 59 °F
Altimeter
30.05 inHg
Observed at
KSSF

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 263 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.