# NTSB CHI90LA018: Beech A36, N6736L, Lansing, IL, October 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1989, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Lansing, IL
- Coordinates: 41.559806, -87.539459 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5598&lon=-87.5395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14585
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14585/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA018

## Probable cause

PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ELECTING TO TAXI ACROSS AN UNMARKED AREA IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AT AN AIRPORT WITH KNOWN CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS AND THE AIRPORT MANAGEMENT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THE INITIAL REPAIRS WERE SUFFICIENT TO CORRECT THE HOLES MADE DURING CONSTRUCTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - other airport/runway maintenance - poor, airport personnel (cause)
  - notams - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ditch (cause)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAXI FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE HANGAR/RAMP AREA AFTER LANDING, THE PLT TAXIED ACROSS A GRASSY AREA TO GET TO THE MARKED TEMPORARY GRASS TAXIWAY. AS HE TAXIED THROUGH THE GRASSY AREA, THE ACFT'S LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DROPPED INTO AN UNMARKED HOLE WHICH THE PLT ESTIMATED TO BE 23' DEEP. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO TAXI THE ACFT OUT OF THE HOLE BY USING POWER; HOWEVER SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE RESULTED TO THE ACFT. THE ARPT WAS IN THE MIDST OF ONGOING CONSTRUCTION, AND THE HOLE WAS ONE OF SEVERAL CAUSED BY THE RELOCATION OF THE VASI LIGHT INSTALLATION DUE TO RUNWAY EXPANSION. THE AIRPORT MANAGEMENT STATED THAT THE HOLES HAD BEEN 'RESTORED' AFTER THE VASI STRUCTURES WERE REMOVED; THEY WERE 'RESTORED' AGAIN THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT DESCRIBED THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AS 'DARK NIGHT' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6736L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-2019
- Airframe hours: 1225
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald N. Cavanaugh
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1989, 103 hours before
- Departed: OKK, KOKOMO, IN
- Destination: 3HA, LANSING, IL
- Airport: 3HA, Lansing Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 355 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19891022042089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891022042089A), Oct 22, 1989: Beech A36, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. Turned off runway onto temporary taxiway and left main gear fell into a hole in the sod.

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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