# NTSB CHI02CA182: Beech A-23-23, N3545R, Monroe, MI, July 4, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2002, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Monroe, MI
- Coordinates: 41.939998, -83.434722
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9400&lon=-83.4347&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55215
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02CA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55215/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55215
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02CA182

## Probable cause

The pilot misjudging the flare, and his loss of directional control during landing.  The soft terrain was a factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - runway
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed

## Analysis

The airplane was damaged when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing.  The pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings when, on the fourth landing, "... [the pilot] must have flared [too] soon causing the airplane to bounce at touchdown."  The airplane then went off the right side of the runway where, "the nosewheel dug into the terrain causing it to collapse and the airplane to go nose down."

## Factual narrative

On July 4, 2002, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Beech A-23-23, N3545R, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing on runway 03 (5,000 feet by 100 feet, asphalt), at the Custer Airport, Monroe, Michigan.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan.  The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured.  The local flight originated at an undetermined time.

The pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings when, on the fourth landing, "... [the pilot] must have flared [too] soon causing the airplane to bounce at touchdown."  The airplane then went off the right side of the runway where, "the nosewheel dug into the terrain causing it to collapse and the airplane to go nose down."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3545R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3545R-2018-12-04), registration cancelled 2018-12-04, S/N M-801, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech A-23-23
- Registry model: [Beech A23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23) (registry code 1151204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-346 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-346-series) (registry code 17033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M-801
- Engines: Continental IO-346A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Cklm Lllc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TTF, Monroe, MI
- Airport: TTF, Custer, runway 03

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 111 total, 4 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20020704038229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020704038229A), Jul 4, 2002: Beech A23, Monroe, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft nosed over after landing, nose gear collapsed, propeller struck runway.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55215. 396 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460430&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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