# NTSB ERA19TA011: Beech F33, N9469Q, Reidsville, GA, October 13, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: October 13, 2018, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Reidsville, GA - Coordinates: 32.059444, -82.15361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0594&lon=-82.1536&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98482/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98482 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a taxiway sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear slightly left of centerline. As soon as he lowered the nose landing gear (NLG), he felt the airplane lurch left and then right. The pilot attempted to arrest the movement with rudder inputs, followed by differential braking, but the airplane continued to veer right uncontrollably. He then intentionally increased braking until both wheels started skidding. The airplane skidded sideways and then exited the right side of the runway and collided with a taxiway sign before coming to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Continuity of the NLG steering system was confirmed. Given the evidence, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain directional control after landing, which resulted in the runway excursion. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2018, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Beech F33A, N9469Q, was substantially damaged during landing at Swinton Smith Field (RVJ), Reidsville, Georgia. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was operated by the pilot and conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Wright Army Airfield (LHW), Hinesville, Georgia, about 1215. The pilot reported that he flew the airport traffic pattern for runway 29, a 5,000-ft-long, 75-ft-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane touched down at 65 knots on the main landing gear about 750 ft from the approach end of the runway and slightly left of centerline. As soon as he lowered the nosegear, he felt the airplane lurch uncharacteristically left and then right. The pilot attempted to arrest the movement first with rudder inputs, then by differential braking. The airplane did not respond and started to veer uncontrollably to the right. He then intentionally increased braking until both wheels started skidding. At this point the airplane was skidding sideways and traveled off the right side of the runway, colliding with a taxiway sign before coming to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing spar was damaged. The inspector added that a continuity check of the nose landing gear system to include all linkage from the rudder pedals to the rudder flight control was performed and no discrepancies were noted. Further examination of the nosewheel well area revealed no visible indications of premature component failure. Examination of the runway revealed main landing gear tire marks about 750 ft from the approach end of the runway. Shortly after the main landing gear tire marks, a nosewheel tire mark was visible and continued straight without any wobbling deviations. The inspector also noted main landing gear tire mark skids further down the runway, consistent with the pilot's report of heavy braking before departing the side of the runway. The recorded wind at an airport located about 12 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 290° at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9469Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9469Q-2019-05-17), registration cancelled 2019-05-17, S/N CE-369, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech F33 (A) - Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-369 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 4033 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2018, 13 hours before - Departed: LHW, Hinesville, GA - Destination: RVJ, Reidsville, GA - Airport: RVJ, Swinton Smith Field, runway 29, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review July 6, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 668 total, 110 in this make and model, 188 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: VDI, 12 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 20181013019869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181013019869A), Oct 13, 2018: Beech F33A, Reidsville, GA, Substantial damage. On October 13, 2018, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Beechcraft bonanza, N9496Q, was substantially damaged after it struck a taxiway sign during a routine… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98482. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467821&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467823&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467824&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-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.