# NTSB CEN22LA440: Beech C23, N2240L, Merrill, WI, July 27, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 27, 2022, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Merrill, WI · Airport Runway 7
- Coordinates: 45.1989, -89.7128
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1989&lon=-89.7128&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106192
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA440
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106192/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106192
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA440

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate roll control during takeoff with a quartering tailwind.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Beech C23, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C23, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech C23, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Beech C23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was conducting a zero-flap takeoff when shortly after liftoff the airplane entered an unintentional right roll that neither the student pilot nor his flight instructor could correct with full left aileron and left rudder input. The airplane continued to roll right until the right wingtip struck the ground. The nose landing gear and left main landing gear separated from the airplane during the hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to a fuselage longeron, the left side of the stabilator, and the right aileron. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Flight control cable continuity was confirmed for the ailerons, rudder, and stabilator. The aileron system exhibited binding due to impact-related damage to the right aileron. The airport’s weather station reported a calm wind condition about 5 minutes before the accident. However, the airport manager reported that the surface wind at the time of the accident was from the southwest at 16.5 knots, gusting 19 knots. A postaccident weather model for the airport included a west surface wind (277°) at 9 knots. Based on the wind model data, the airplane likely departed runway 7 with an 8 knot left quartering tailwind. The unintentional right roll was likely due to the student pilot not maintaining adequate roll control after liftoff.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2240L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2240L-2024-07-27), registration cancelled 2024-07-27, S/N M-1888, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M-1888
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 3657
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: De Plane LLC
- Registered owner: De Plane LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 14, 2022, 75.2 hours before
- Departed: RRL, Merrill, WI
- Destination: RRL, Merrill, WI
- Airport: RRL, Merrill Municipal Airport, runway 7, 5,100 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 35,000 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 34,800 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 30 total, 24 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Icing: Clear
- Observed at: KRRL
- METAR: METAR KRRL 271955Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM -RA SCT032 BKN050 OVC095 20/15 A2982 RMK AO2 T01980153 TSNO=

## 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 20220727019789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220727019789A), Jul 27, 2022: Beech C23, Merrill, WI, Substantial damage. During a dual instructional flight, the PIC (instructor) of the single-engine aircraft, expirenced loss of control of the aircraft while the student performed…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106192. 23.8 MB in all.

- Accident report ( flight instructor ) (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16730277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%206120_1%20Accident%20Report%20(%20Flight%20Instructor%20)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident report ( airplane owner ) (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 9.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16729767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%206120_1%20Accident%20Report%20(%20Airplane%20Owner%20)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Statements ( flight instructor ) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16729393&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Statements%20(%20Flight%20Instructor%20)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Statements ( student pilot ) (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16729463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Statements%20(%20Student%20Pilot%20)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA record of conversation with flight instructor (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 264 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16730171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Flight%20Instructor_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB record of conversation with FAA inspector (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16734896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06%20-%20NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- NTSB weather summary (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16729886&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=07%20-%20NTSB%20Weather%20Summary-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance logbooks (excerpts) (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16730287&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=08%20-%20Maintenance%20Logbooks%20(Excerpts)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB wreckage release (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16729483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=09%20-%20NTSB%20Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 10, PDF, 9 pages, 8 photos, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16735038&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=10%20-%20Photos-Rel.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.

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