CHI04CA095

NTSB accident investigation · Beech C23 · Lake in the Hil, IL · April 17, 2004

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 17, 2004, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
Place
Lake in the Hil, IL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6715XBeech C23
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 30, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
West Chicago, IL, FSDO
FAA report
20040417007229A
Case key
59121

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The dual student pilot not maintaining airplane control during the go-around and the flight instructor pilot's inadequate remedial action resulting in the airplane's uncontrolled descent.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - aborted
Aircraft control - not maintainedDual studentCause
Remedial action - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - grass

Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain when the airplane exited the runway during an aborted landing. The instructor reported, "The aircraft turned final and flew a slightly low and fast approach to the runway. The aircraft touched down flat on the runway and because of the excess speed the aircraft bounced into the air a considerable amount. At this point the landing was aborted. As the power was advanced the aircraft began a left turn and drifted off the runway. At this point the instructor called for complete control of the aircraft and returned to wings level pitch attitude; however, despite the application of full power the aircraft refused to climb and touched down right main first on the grass to the north side of the runway. The aircraft then swung nose right shearing off the nose gear and left main gear causing the propeller to strike the ground." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the airplane in reference to the flight. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the flight controls were operational and correct and that the engine controls were operational.

Factual narrative

On April 17, 2004, about 0845 central daylight time, a Beech C23, N6715X, operated by the Flight Center at Service Aviation Inc., sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain when the airplane exited the runway during a go-around at the Lake in the Hills Airport, near Lake in the Hills, Illinois. The instructional flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The instructor pilot and student pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed from Palwaukee Municipal Airport (PWK), near Wheeling, Illinois, about 0720.

The certified flight instructor's accident report stated:

The aircraft turned final and flew a slightly low and fast approach to

the runway. The aircraft touched down flat on the runway and

because of the excess speed the aircraft bounced into the air a

considerable amount. At this point a go around was initiated. As the

power was advanced the aircraft began a left turn and drifted off the

runway. At this point the instructor called for complete control of the

aircraft and returned to wings level pitch attitude, however despite the

application of full power the aircraft refused to climb and touched

down right main first on the grass to the north side of the runway. The

aircraft then swung nose right shearing off the nose gear and left main

gear causing the propeller to strike the ground. The aircraft came to

rest in the grass to the north of runway 8 about halfway down the

runway, and facing the centerline of the runway.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the airplane in reference to the flight.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector performed an examination of the wreckage. The examination revealed that the flight controls were operational and correct and that the engine controls were operational.

At 0853, the recorded PWK weather was: Wind calm; visibility 6 statute miles; present weather haze; sky condition clear; temperature 14 degrees C; dew point 11degrees C; altimeter 30.05 inches of mercury.

At 0853, the recorded DuPage Airport, near West Chicago, Illinois, weather was: Wind variable at 3 knots; visibility 6 statute miles; present weather haze; sky condition few clouds 6,000 feet; temperature 15 degrees C; dew point 12 degrees C; altimeter 30.03 inches of mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N6715X
Reported as
Beech C23
Category
Airplane
Serial number
M-2260
Engine
Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Flight Center At Service Aviation Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
PWK · Chicago/Prospec, IL
Destination
Lake in the Hil, IL

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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
23
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
February 26, 2004
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
502 total · 103 in this make and model · 352 as pilot in command · 117 in the last 90 days · 49 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Injuries
None

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
0° at 0 knots
Visibility
6 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
57 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
PWK

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N6715X · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.