CHI94LA281

NTSB accident investigation · Beech B-35 · Boyceville, WI · August 14, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 14, 1994, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC)
Place
Boyceville, WI
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N5095CBeech B-35
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 25, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940814027429A
Case key
9640

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

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot-in-command's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions during the landing flare/touchdown. A factor was the gusty wind conditions.

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 - flare/touchdown
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Nose gear collapsedLanding - roll
Landing gear,nose gear - overload

Analysis

The pilot reported that while on final approach, at approximately 15 to 20 feet above the runway surface, the airplane experienced an extreme downdraft. He stated he flared the airplane, but was unable to keep the airplane from being slammed onto the runway. After the initial impact, the airplane bounced into the air in a nose high attiutde. The pilot immediately pushed the nose down and applied engine power. The airplane impacted the grass adjacent to the runway, the nose wheel collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground before the airplane came to rest. No preimpact mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot. The pilot reported the winds to be from 270 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

Factual narrative

On August 14, 1994, at 1110 central daylight time, a Beech B-35 Bonanza, N5095C, was substantially damaged when it landed hard and skidded off Runway 22 at Boyceville Municipal Airport, Boyceville, Wisconsin. Neither the pilot or the sole passenger aboard were injured. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated in Strum, Wisconsin, at 1035. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan.

In a written statement, the pilot reported everything was normal on final approach to land until approximately 15 to 20 feet above the runway surface. The pilot stated, "...we hit an extreme downdraft. I flared the plane to correct but was unable to stop the plane from being slammed into the runway on its main gear." The pilot stated, after the initial impact the airplane bounced back into the air in an extreme nose high attitude. He immediately pushed the airplane's nose down and increased the engine power. The pilot stated the airplane then impacted the grass adjacent to the runway. The nose wheel collapsed and the right wing struck the ground before the airplane came to rest.

No preimpact mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot.

Aircraft

Registration
N5095C
Reported as
Beech B-35
Category
Airplane
Serial number
D-2357
Airframe hours
8,050
Engine
Continental E-185-8, 196 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Joel D. Parker
Registered owner
Joel D. Parker
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · July 13, 1993 · 30 hours before
Departed
NONE · Strum, WI
Airport
WI20 · Boyceville, runway 22, 2,800 × 40 ft, asphalt

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
51
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown, Expired
Seat
Left
Flight hours
260 total · 20 in this make and model · 230 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 14 knots, gusting 20
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

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