# NTSB CHI96LA131: Beech A23A, N3613Q, Saginaw, MI, April 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 1996, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Saginaw, MI - Coordinates: 43.429681, -83.860897 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4297&lon=-83.8609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10228/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA131 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced 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 - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The student pilot said he landed the airplane on all 3 tires and it bounced into the air. He said the second touchdown was not as hard as the first. The nosewheel assembly collapsed shortly after the second touchdown. The pilot said he had made landings that were harder than the accident landing. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 1996, at 1630 eastern daylight time (edt), a Beech A-23A, N3613Q, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Frankemuth, Michigan, at 1600 edt. During an interview with the pilot he said he landed the airplane on all 3 tires. He said the landing didn't seem hard but the airplane bounced into the air upon touchdown. He said the nose gear broke off the airplane after the second touchdown. He said the second touch down wasn't as hard as the first one. According to the pilot, he has made landings in the past that were harder than the one leading to the accident. The pilot was asked how he would recover from a bounced landing. He said he would add full power and apply up elevator pressure on the yoke so the airplane wouldn't hit the runway again. He was asked if he took this action on the accident landing. He said he did not because the landings didn't seem to be too hard. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3613Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3613Q), registered now, S/N M-1048, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A23A - Registry model: [Beech A23A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23a) (registry code 1151208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-346 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-346-series) (registry code 17033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M1048 - Airframe hours: 2130 - Engines: Continental IO-346-A 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald Niec - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 1996, 20 hours before - Departed: 66G, FRANKEMUTH, MI - Airport: 3SG, Saginaw-Browne Intl, runway 27, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 63 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MBS, 11 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 19960413027169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960413027169A), Apr 13, 1996: Beech A23A, Saginaw, MI, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing. Came down on nose gear and broke it off. Failed to add back yoke and power to recover. (-23) landing on 27, gusty winds caused him to… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.