CHI00LA001

The aircraft struck the runway hard, the gear sheared, and the aircraft caught fire as it skidded off the right side of the runway. The left and right seat pilots reported a "pop" noise and a sudden nose down pitch of the aircraft while on final approach. Inspection of the aircraft by FAA inspectors did not disclose evidence of any preimpact mechanical problem with the aircraft.

On October 3, 1999, at 1125 eastern standard time (est), a Beech C-23, N9213S, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed by a post-impact fire following a hard landing on runway 19 at Greenwood Municipal Airport (HFY), Greenwood, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot, front seat pilot-rated passenger, and rear seat passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Mount Comfort (MQJ) airport at 1105 est.

The pilot stated that when the aircraft was "over the touch down zone at about 25 ft. above the runway the airplane enter a sudden severe nose down attitude and made a hard landing on the Rt Center of Runway 19." The left seat passenger, who held a Private Pilot Certificate, said he "heard a pop and the plane pitched instantly nose-down I say maybe 25 feet high and over the runway we hit hard enough to break windows and landing gear. The right wing caught fire immediately."

Witnesses reported the airplane approached the runway at a low altitude with a high pitch up attitude. The pilot-rated passenger said the pilot attempted a go around as the airplane flew over the runway threshold. Witnesses on the ground said the airplane landed hard on the runway, bounced into the air, and landed hard a second time. On-scene evidence revealed that the right wing fuel tank ruptured during the second hard landing. The nose and main landing gear trailing arm and wheel assemblies separated from their respective landing gear strut mounts during the second landing. The airplane slid down the runway and exited the runway's right edge and onto the runway clearway area. (see attached accident diagram)

Witnesses reported the airplane's landing gear struts were sparking as it skidded on the runway. They said the airplane caught fire during its skid on the runway and burned after it stopped on the clearway.

An FAA Inspector inspected the aircraft and reported : "I verified aileron control, rudder control and flap control through visual inspection of flight control linkages. The damage to these flight control systems was the result of both impact and post crash fire. The elevator control cable was severed as a result of impact with the runway hard surface. The pilot verified the engine was developing power and confirmed by the extensive curling to the propeller. The engine was serviced with 7 quarts of oil. I confirmed 100LL fuel was onboard from 12 gallons remaining in the left wing tank."