# NTSB ERA21LA012: Beech 23, N8783M, Spruce Pines, NC, October 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 3, 2020, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Spruce Pines, NC · Airplane came to rest in road just off airport property. - Coordinates: 35.950234, -81.998167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9502&lon=-81.9982&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102119/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102119 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA012 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to familiarize himself with the wind conditions at the destination airport and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in a long, tailwind landing and subsequent runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1151204), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151204), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 A23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1151204), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1151204), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A23, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151204), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before attempting to land on the 3,001-ft-long, asphalt runway, the pilot had been advised by personnel at the destination airport that landing toward the upsloping direction of the runway was preferred. The pilot did not check the wind direction prior to landing, and during the landing flare, the airplane did not slow down or descend. The pilot added full flaps, but the airplane continued to float and touched down with about 200 ft of remaining runway. Subsequently, the airplane overran the runway end, proceeded through the airport perimeter fence, traveled down an embankment, and came to rest on a road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Following the accident, the pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and stated that he believed that a tailwind was likely present during the landing attempt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8783M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8783M-2021-11-13), registration cancelled 2021-11-13, S/N M-568 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 23 - Registry model: [Beech A23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23) (registry code 1151204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-346 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-346-series) (registry code 17033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-568 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 3585 - Engines: Continental IO 346A 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2020, 10 hours before - Departed: K62, Falmouth, KY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 7A8, Avery County Airport, runway 35, 3,001 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review November 9, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 35 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 3025.00 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KMRN, 20 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 20201003016859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201003016859A), Oct 3, 2020: Beech A23, Spruce Pines, NC, Substantial damage. The pilot stated the flight was normal from K62 to 7A8. Upon arriving at 7A8 at an altitude of 7500 ft., he performed a circling descent to enter the traffic… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102119. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11582203&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA012%20Signed%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11582140&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Area weather reports (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11589760&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Area%20Weather%20Reports-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11582476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA21LA012-Rel.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.