- Date
- May 31, 1995, 20:15 local (Jun 1, 1995, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Lake Ann, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N23828Beech C23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950531017999A
- Case key
- 9894
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's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and improper short field landing procedures. Factors associated with the accident were the wet terrain, a tailwind, and the pilots lack of recent experience.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated he misjudged the grass and dew conditions while landing on the 1,960 foot long airstrip. The airplane continued off the end of the airstrip into a wooded area. A witness stated the approach and touchdown looked 'fine' but the airplane did not seem to slow down once on the ground. The pilot did not have a current medical nor had he flown in the last 90 days. The landing was made with a tailwind. The pilot also stated he did not use enough flaps for the landing.
Factual narrative
On May 31, 1995, at 2015 eastern daylight time, a Beech C23, N23828, collided with trees while landing at the Airways Estates Airpark, Lake Ann, Michigan, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Frankfort, Michigan.
The pilot stated he misjudged the grass and "dew conditions" while landing to the north. He stated he was too close to the end of the airstrip to abort the landing. The airplane traveled off the end of the 1,960 foot long grass strip and collided with trees.
A witness stated he saw the airplane make a low approach for the east/west runway. It then appeared to leave the traffic pattern. The witness stated he next saw the airplane on final approach for runway 36. He stated the approach and touchdown looked "...fine for that particular runway" but that the airplane did not slow down once on the ground. He stated that it continued down the runway and seemed to "bounce a couple of times and then started to skid or fish tail." He stated the airplane continued off the end of the runway into a wooded area.
Winds reported at Traverse City, Michigan, near the time of the accident were from 240 degrees at 10 knots. The witness told a Benzie County Sheriff's Department Deputy that the pilot landed with a tailwind. The Sheriff's Department report indicates that wing flaps were set at 25 degrees when they inspected the airplane. The pilot told the witness after the accident that he did not use enough flaps for the landing.
The pilot indicated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, which he completed that he had not flown in the last 90 days. The pilot did not have a current medical certificate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23828
- Reported as
- Beech C23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M-2001
- Airframe hours
- 1,880
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert L. Kamp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 27, 1994 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- 3D4 · Frankfort, MI
- Airport
- Lake Ann, Airways Estates, runway 36, 1,960 × 50 ft, grass/turf
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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 312 total · 252 in this make and model · 252 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TVC, 17 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.
Other investigations on N23828 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.