# NTSB CHI90LA008: Beech C23, N9157S, Rock Falls, IL, October 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 1989, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Rock Falls, IL
- Coordinates: 41.770645, -89.690994 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7706&lon=-89.6910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14575
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14575/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA008

## Probable cause

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
- Fire/explosion, other
  - fuel system,drain - ruptured

## Analysis

STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST CROSS COUNTRY SOLO, AND SET UP APPROACH IN TRAFFIC PATTERN AT DESTINATION AIRPORT UTILIZING VASI ON FINAL APPROACH. STUDENT STATED AIRCRAFT HIT THE RUNWAY HARD AND BOUNCED. ON SECOND GROUND CONTACT, PROP HIT RUNWAY. ON THIRD GROUND CONTACT, NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP. COCKPIT STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE, STUDENT EXITED AIRCRAFT UNINJURED. STUDENT NOTICED FIRE UNDER AIRCRAFT BEING FED BY STREAM OF FUEL FROM RIGHT WING TANK SUMP DRAIN. AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE BEFORE IT COULD BE EXTINGUISHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9157S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9157S-1989-12-29), registration cancelled 1989-12-29, S/N M1773 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1773
- Airframe hours: 2968
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald E. Costello
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1989, 70 hours before
- Departed: ARR, SUGAR GROVE, IL
- Destination: SQI, ROCK FALLS, IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SQI, Whiteside Cty, runway 7, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RFD, 35 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 19891012040019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891012040019A), Oct 12, 1989: Beech C23, Sterling Rockfa, IL, Destroyed. Student bounced aircraft on landing,third bounce folded nose gear. Aircraft destroyed by fire.

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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