# NTSB CHI03LA123: Beech 95-C55, N541U, Point Lookout, MO, May 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2003, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Point Lookout, MO - Coordinates: 36.625831, -93.228889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6258&lon=-93.2289&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA -- Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56997/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA123 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. Contributing factors were the sudden windshift to a tailwind, the wet runway surface, the lack of available runway overrun area and the rocky, descending embankment. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway overrun area - not available (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The aircraft was substantially damaged when it overran the runway after landing and slid down an embankment. The pilot reported he executed an instrument approach to the destination airport. Upon arrival he noted that it had been raining and the runway was wet. He stated that the wind conditions were gusty and the prevailing wind direction reversed to a tailwind as the aircraft touched down. He applied maximum braking, however, "the plane began to hydroplane," according to the pilot. An on-scene inspection determined that the aircraft came to rest off the end of the runway. Approximately 15 feet from the end of the pavement was an embankment, with a drop-off of approximately 75 feet at a slope of approximately 45 degrees (downhill). No skid marks were observed in the area of the departure end of the runway. The pilot reported conditions at the time of the accident as wind from 180 degrees magnetic at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. He noted moderate turbulence and no precipitation at the time. Performance data provided by the aircraft manufacturer specified a required landing distance of approximately 1,750 feet at a landing weight of 5,000 lbs. and a 10 knot tailwind. This data is applicable to a dry, paved, level surface, according to the chart. The pilot reported no malfunctions of the aircraft or engines prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2003, approximately 1700 central daylight time, a Beech 95-C55, N541U, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it overran runway 29 (3,739 feet x 100 feet, asphalt) after landing and slid down an embankment at the M. Graham Clark Airport (PLK), Point Lookout, Missouri. The runway surface was wet due to a recent rain shower, according to the pilot. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight had been operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed the Memorial Field Airport (HOT), Hot Springs, Arkansas, at 1600. PLK was the intended destination. In his written statement, the pilot reported he executed an approach to runway 29 at PLK. Upon arrival he noted that it had been raining and the runway was wet. He stated that the wind conditions were gusty and the prevailing wind direction reversed to a tailwind as the aircraft touched down. He applied maximum braking, however, "the plane began to hydroplane," according to the pilot. He noted that "had it not been for the rocks on the down slope off the end of [runway] 29, the airplane would have only minor damage." The Federal Aviation Administration inspector on-scene reported that the aircraft came to rest off the end of runway 29. He noted that approximately 15 feet from the end of the pavement was an embankment. This was a drop-off, relative to the runway, of approximately 75 feet, according to the inspector. He estimated the slope as 45 degrees (downward). The terrain consisted of rocks and stones. In addition, he observed no skid marks in the area of the departure end of the runway. The pilot reported weather conditions at PLK at the time of the accident as: broken clouds at 2,000 feet above ground level (agl), overcast clouds at 4,000 feet agl, visibility 7 statute miles (sm) and wind from 180 degrees magnetic at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. He noted moderate turbulence and no precipitation at the time. The destination airport did not have automated weather reporting. Conditions at the Boone County Airport (HRO), located 22 nautical miles to the south-southeast, at the 1653 cdt routine observation, reported winds from 200 degrees at 6 knots and 1-3/4 sm visibility in heavy rain and thunderstorms. A special observation was recorded at 1708 cdt and reported winds from 160 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots, and 1-3/4 sm visibility in light rain and thunderstorms. This report noted distant lightning in all quadrants. Performance data provided by the aircraft manufacturer specified a required landing distance of approximately 1,750 feet at a landing weight of 5,000 lbs. and a 10 knot tailwind. This data is applicable to a dry, paved, level surface, according to the chart. The pilot reported no malfunctions of the aircraft or engines prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N541U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N541U-2005-12-29), registration cancelled 2005-12-29, S/N TE-334, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 95-C55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-C55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-c55) (registry code 1152708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-334 - Airframe hours: 3900 - Engines: Continental IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ozark Entertainment Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2003 - Departed: HOT, Hot Springs, AR - Destination: PLK, Point Lookout, MO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PLK, M Graham Clark, runway 29, 3,739 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 25, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 6,606 total, 3,044 in this make and model, 6,606 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 1.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.68 inHg - Observed at: HRO, 22 nm away ## 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 20030510016829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030510016829A), May 10, 2003: Beech 95C55, Point Lookout, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was on an IFR flight plan from little rock, ar (hot) to Point Lookout, MO (plk). Pilot requested and was given a GPS approach to runway 29 by sgf… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.