CHI98LA092

NTSB accident investigation · Beech C-23 · Eden Prairie, MN · February 8, 1998

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 8, 1998, 14:40 local (20:40 UTC)
Place
Eden Prairie, MN
Injuries
4 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N18766Beech C-23
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 8, 1998
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19980208001009A
Case key
10828

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 pilot's improper raising of flaps and not maintaining directional control of the aircraft during the go-around sequence.

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 flightGo-around (vfr)
Raising of flaps - improperPilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Object - hangar/airport building
Object - fence
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ditch

Analysis

The pilot reported he touched down further down the runway then he intended and the airplane porpoised twice during touchdown. The pilot reported he elected to go-around after the second porpoise as he was running out of runway. He reported that during the go-around he retracted the flaps from full to neutral, and he applied full power and right rudder. The pilot reported the airplane entered a left yaw/roll during the go-around. The airplane then contacted a hangar, a chain link fence, and a ditch prior to spinning 180 degrees and sliding to a stop.

Factual narrative

On February 8, 1998, at 1440 central standard time (cst), a Beech C-23, N18766, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with a hangar, chain link fence, ditch and highway during a go-around maneuver following a bounced landing on runway 18 (2,691' X 75', dry asphalt) at the Flying Cloud Airport, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and three passengers reported minor injuries. The flight departed Eden Prairie, Minnesota, at 1400 cst.

The pilot reported that at the end of a local flight he contacted the air traffic control tower for landing instructions and was told to "report in, 3 miles north-northeast of the airport for 'possible' right traffic for [runway] 18." The pilot stated that while on a 3 mile final at an altitude of 3,500 feet he was instructed to "...enter right traffic final for [runway] 18." The pilot said that he lowered full flaps during the approach.

The pilot reported he "touched down a little past my target position of the runway..." and the airplane porpoised twice on the runway. He stated that at this time he "felt there was not enough runway to land safely" so he elected to go-around. The pilot reported that during the go-around he retracted the full flaps, added full throttle and applied right rudder. The pilot said the airplane began a left yaw/roll after retracting the flaps. The aircraft contacted a hangar. It then travelled through a chain link fence, slide into a ditch, spun 180 degrees, and slide backwards onto the adjacent road.

A review of the pilot's logbook indicated that the pilot flew five times since December 12, 1992. He had a biennial flight review on June 6, 1997, and had flown three times since then.

Aircraft

Registration
N18766
Reported as
Beech C-23
Category
Airplane
Serial number
M-1940
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Great Lakes Aircraft, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Departed
FCM
Destination
FCM
Airport
FCM · Flying Cloud, runway 18, 2,691 × 75 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
44
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
225 total · 112 in this make and model · 225 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 9 knots
Visibility
3 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,500 ft broken
Temperature
37 °F, dew point 21 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
FCM

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 N18766 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.