# NTSB DEN08CA133: Beech C23, N24598, Augusta, KS, August 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 6, 2008, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Augusta, KS - Coordinates: 37.671665, -97.077774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6717&lon=-97.0778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 68619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68619/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA133 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the flight instructor's inadequate supervision, turbulence, airspeed was not maintained, and compensation for the wind conditions was inadequate. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Beech C23, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Beech C23, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor said the weather report indicated rain to the north and northeast that was moving to the east. He observed rain and lightning to the distant north, and he made the decision to give his student some experience in touch-and-go and crosswind landings. He said the wind was out of the east-northeast at 14 knots. As they taxied for takeoff, he checked the weather using a nearby airport's ASOS, and it was reporting the wind from 050 degrees at 10 knots. The takeoff and crosswind and downwind legs were without incident. When they turned on to final approach, the student used the VASI lights as an aid for proper glide path. The instructor said that their speed was 70 knots and the student had deployed one notch of flaps. When they were on a 1-1/2 mile final approach, they encountered turbulence and airspeed had dropped to 68 knots. Short of the runway threshold, the airplane "experienced a sinking action" from an altitude of about 30 to 40 feet. The instructor pushed the nose down "to gain some lift," then pulled up to flare. The airplane continued to sink and struck the runway "at a high rate" and bounced. The airplane touched down again and skidded off the left side of the runway onto the grass. It struck a ditch and the nose gear collapsed. Later examination revealed the left main landing gear had been torn off and it struck the left horizontal stabilizer, denting the leading edge and bending the stabilizer midspan. After the accident, the nearest weather reporting facility reported winds from 080 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 28 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2008, approximately 0710 central daylight time, a Beech C23, N24598, registered to the Beech Employees Flying Club, was substantially damaged when it made a hard landing at the Augusta Municipal Airport (3AU), Augusta, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The local flight originated from Augusta approximately 0705. According to the flight instructor's accident report, there was rain to the north and northeast of Wichita that was moving to the east. He observed rain and lightning to the distant north and made the decision to give his student some experience in touch-and-go and crosswind landings. He said the wind was out of the east-northeast at 14 knots. As they taxied for takeoff, he checked the Jabara (3KM) Airport's ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System), and it was reporting the wind from 050 degrees at 10 knots. The takeoff and crosswind and downwind legs were without incident. When they turned on to final approach, the student used the VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator) lights as an aid for proper glide path. The instructor said that their speed was 70 knots and the student had deployed one notch of flaps. When they were on a 1-1/2 mile final approach, they encountered turbulence and airspeed had dropped to 68 knots. Short of the runway threshold, the airplane "experienced a sinking action" from an altitude of about 30 to 40 feet. The instructor pushed the nose down "to gain some lift," then pulled up to flare. The airplane continued to sink and struck the runway "at a high rate" and bounced. The airplane touched down again and skidded off the left side of the runway onto the grass. It struck a ditch and the nose gear collapsed. Later examination revealed the left main landing gear had been torn off and it struck the left horizontal stabilizer, denting the leading edge and bending the stabilizer midspan. Asked how the accident could have been prevented, the instructor wrote: "Receive a better weather report and understand the effects of a frontal boundary and windshear. Carry more speed on final when these conditions exist as well as be prepared for windshear and identify windshear early enough to power out of the condition." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24598](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24598), registered now, S/N M-1419 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1419 - Airframe hours: 4542 - Engines: Lycoming 0-360-A2G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Beech Employees Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2008 - Departed: 3AU, Augusta, KS - Destination: 3AU - Airport: 3AU, Augusta Municipal, runway 36, 4,199 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 1,951 total, 121 in this make and model, 1,933 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 11 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 19 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 21,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: ICT, 21 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 20080806843439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080806843439A), Aug 6, 2008: Beech C23, Augusta, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructor and student were practicing cross wind take offs and landings. Upon landing, the instructor noticed the student had let the airspeed decrease… 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.