# NTSB ERA11CA389: Beech N35, N3344A, Geneseo, NY, July 9, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2011, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Geneseo, NY - Coordinates: 42.79861, -77.842498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7986&lon=-77.8425&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81051 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA389 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81051/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81051 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA389 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech N35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/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 N35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech N35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech N35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident flight was part of a two-airplane formation flight to an airshow. The pilot reported that while on short final approach, he lost sight of the lead airplane. He sidestepped about 20 feet above the ground to regain sight of the lead airplane, but the airplane stalled. He said he added power to recover, but it was too late. The left wing tip struck the ground, the airplane landed hard and slid for another 100 yards resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he and his friend had pre-arranged a formation flight to attend an air show. He stated that he performed formation flying frequently. While on short final to the runway, he lost sight of the lead airplane in the formation and veered left in an effort to regain visual contact. While sidestepping approximately 20 feet above the ground he stalled the airplane and applied full power to recover. The left wing tip contacted the ground and the airplane landed hard and skidded for about 100 yards. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration inspected the airplane and reported structural damage to the left wing and the engine was significantly damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3344A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3344A-2011-08-16), registration cancelled 2011-08-16, S/N D-6733, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH N35 - Registry model: [Beech N35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-n35) (registry code 1151528) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-6733 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BQR, Lancaster, NY - Destination: D52, Geneseo, NY - Airport: D52, Geneseo Airport, runway 23, 4,695 × 90 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,400 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: DSV, 15 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 20110709014489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110709014489A), Jul 9, 2011: Beech N35, Geneseo, NY, Substantial damage. On July 9, 2011 at approximately 8:30AM local time N3344A, flown by [privacy data omitted], crashed at the Geneseo Airport (D52) upon landing and suffered… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81051. 1.2 MB in all. - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Record of Telephone Conversation, Pilot. (item 1, .PDF, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation,%20Pilot.-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Photo, airplane left wing low. (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo,%20airplane%20left%20wing%20low.-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports, Police Report. (item 4, .PDF, 728 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports,%20Police%20Report.-Redacted.PDF 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.