CHI98LA024

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 23 · Salina, KS · October 27, 1997

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 27, 1997, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC)
Place
Salina, KS
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N843KSBeech 23
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 24, 1998
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19971027039989A
Case key
10772

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

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Probable cause

the student pilot's excessive pull-up and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision during a simulated engine failure after takeoff, resulting in a stall/mush onto the runway.

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 flightTakeoff - initial climb
Emergency procedure - simulatedPilot in command(cfi)
Pull-up - excessiveDual studentCause
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause
Stall/mush
In flight collision with terrain/waterTakeoff - initial climb
Main gear collapsedTakeoff - initial climb

Analysis

The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) pulled the engine power to idle shortly after takeoff at an altitude of 100 feet agl to simulate an engine failure. The student pilot pulled back on the control yoke, decreasing the airspeed which resulted in a 'sink at a great rate.' The CFI took control of the airplane and added power, but the airplane collided with the runway and bounced becoming airborne. The CFI initiated a climb and discovered a loss of stabilator effectiveness. He was able to bring the airplane back to the airport for a landing. After landing it was determined that the right main gear sheared off and contacted the right flap and stabilator during the bounce.

Factual narrative

On October 27, 1997, at 1645 central standard time, a Beech 23, N843KS, operated by Kansas State University Salina, collided with the runway while practicing a simulated engine failure on takeoff at the Salina Municipal Airport, Salina, Kansas. The 14 CFR Part 91 training flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The certified flight instructor (CFI), student pilot, and a passenger were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The CFI reported that after takeoff at an altitude of about 100 feet above ground level (agl) he requested permission to perform a simulated engine failure from air traffic control. He then pulled the engine power back to idle. At this point, according to the CFI, the student pulled back on the control yoke which resulted an increased pitch attitude and decreased airspeed. The CFI reported the airplane began to sink at which time he took control and added power. He reported, "We hit the runway hard and bounced, becoming airborne again. At about 200 ft. AGL, I realized that I had lost stabilator effectiveness." The CFI then informed air traffic control of the situation and they cleared him to land on any runway. The CFI reported he chose Runway 30 and once lined up over the runway he shut the engine down and landed the airplane coming to a stop on the runway.

The CFI reported that the right main landing gear had sheared off the airplane when it struck the runway during the simulated emergency. He continued to report, "When the wheel came off it hit the right flap and the horizontal stabilator doing damage to both, which explains why I lost stabilator effectiveness."

Aircraft

Registration
N843KS
Reported as
Beech 23
Category
Airplane
Serial number
M-2023
Airframe hours
3,054
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Kansas State University Salina
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · October 16, 1997 · 12 hours before
Departed
SLN
Destination
SLN
Airport
SLN · Salina Municipal, runway 17, 13,337 × 200 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
23
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
533 total · 139 in this make and model · 385 as pilot in command · 155 in the last 90 days · 73 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
SLN

FAA reports on this event · 1

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