# NTSB ERA21LA151: Beech Sierra, N3839J, Augusta, ME, March 9, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 9, 2021, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Augusta, ME - Coordinates: 44.315015, -69.794812 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3150&lon=-69.7948&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - 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): 102743 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102743/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102743 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and a subsequent runway excursion. Also causal was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 C24R, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing a practice power off 180° landing with his flight instructor onboard. While on short final approach to the runway the airplane’s bank angle was about 20° when the pilot entered the landing flare. The airplane dropped to the runway from a height about 5 ft and bounced. The flight instructor then assumed control of the airplane and increased engine power to full. The airplane departed the side of the runway but was not traveling fast enough to climb and it crossed a taxiway and another runway before coming to rest in the runway safety area. The left horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3839J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3839J), registered now, S/N MC-752, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH Sierra - Registry model: [Beech C24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c24r) (registry code 1151254) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6) (registry code 41576, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MC-752 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 4380 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AUG, Augusta State, runway 17/35, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 5, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 852 total, 537 in this make and model, 775 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review February 3, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,113 total, 33 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: AUG - METAR: KAUG 091753Z AUTO 30013G22KT 10SM FEW039 SCT046 OVC065 04/M04 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP216 T00441039 10067 21022 53007 ## 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 20210309001209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210309001209A), Mar 9, 2021: Beech C24R, Augusta, ME, Substantial damage. This series of events concurred in individual pilot statements. CFI candidate and instructor departed the airport at Augusta for a training flight at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102743. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12147327&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20NTSB%206120_N3839J_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12146693&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Marchesi_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12147529&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N3839J%20Instrutor%20statemant_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12147337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA21LA151-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.