# NTSB ERA14CA213: Beech 76, N6756X, Fort Pierce, FL, April 29, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 29, 2014, 13:42 local (17:42 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.497499, -80.372779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4975&lon=-80.3728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89138 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89138/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89138 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA213 ## Probable cause The instructor's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point in a multiengine airplane, during a single-engine approach in a strong gusty headwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 76, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Beech 76, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Beech 76, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Beech 76, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 76, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 76, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1153005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instructor of the multiengine airplane reported that he and the student pilot had intentionally shutdown and secured the right engine for training purposes; however, they were unable to get it restarted. The instructor then flew the airplane back to the departure airport and extended the landing gear while on a 2-mile left base leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 14. After the landing gear was extended, the instructor noticed a high descent rate and subsequently raised the landing gear, which arrested the descent. At that point, the tower controller reported that the wind was from 130 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots. The instructor extended the landing gear again when the airplane was established on final approach at the proper glidepath, but the descent rate again increased and the wind started to gust on short final approach. The airplane subsequently touched down prior to the approach end of runway 14, in a grass drainage basin of a perpendicular runway. During the landing, the right wing struck the ground and the nosegear collapsed before the airplane came to rest upright in the basin. With the exception of the inability to restart the right engine, the instructor did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The inspector did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative The instructor of the multiengine airplane reported that he and the student pilot had intentionally shutdown and secured the right engine for training purposes; however, they were unable to get it restarted. The instructor then flew the airplane back to the departure airport and extended the landing gear while on a 2-mile left base leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 14. After the landing gear was extended, the instructor noticed a high descent rate and subsequently raised the landing gear, which arrested the descent. At that point, the tower controller reported that the wind was from 130 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots. The instructor extended the landing gear again when the airplane was established on final approach at the proper glidepath, but the descent rate again increased and the wind started to gust on short final approach. The airplane subsequently touched down prior to the approach end of runway 14, in a grass drainage basin of a perpendicular runway. During the landing, the right wing struck the ground and the nosegear collapsed before the airplane came to rest upright in the basin. With the exception of the inability to restart the right engine, the instructor did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The inspector did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6756X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6756X-2018-03-02), registration cancelled 2018-03-02, S/N ME-346, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 76 - Registry model: [Beech 76](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-76) (registry code 1153005) (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: ME-346 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 12489 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING LO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ari Ben Aviator Inc, doing business as Aviator College of Aeronautical Science & Technolo - Registered owner: Ari Ben Aviator Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 8, 2014, 49 hours before - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Airport: FPR, St Lucie County International, runway 14, 4,755 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,335 total, 76 in this make and model, 1,183 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 27, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 267 total, 166 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 22 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FPR ## 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 20140429005079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140429005079A), Apr 29, 2014: Beech 76, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. On April 29, 2014, at or about 1345 EDT, [privacy data omitted], holder of commercial pilot certificate number [privacy data omitted], while acting as pilot in… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89138. 859 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412088&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412089&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Right Wing Damage (item 4, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412090&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Right%20Wing%20Damage-Master.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.