# NTSB ERA24LA064: Beech A36, N6643H, Sidney, OH, December 12, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 12, 2023, 15:44 local (20:44 UTC) - Place: Sidney, OH - Coordinates: 40.241278, -84.147861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2413&lon=-84.1479&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): 193518 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193518/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193518 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA064 ## Probable cause The pilots’ improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, runway excursion, and subsequent impact with a terminal sign and taxi light. ## 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 A36, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech A36, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech A36, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The right seat pilot reported that after performing a preflight inspection, he anticipated the airplane would need to be refueled and subsequently left the fuel caps unlocked. After a discussion with the left seat pilot (who was acting as the pilot-in-command), they decided they would not need to refuel before the flight. Both pilots performed another walk around inspection and neither pilot noticed that the fuel caps remained unlocked. Shortly after takeoff, the right seat pilot noticed that both fuel caps were not secure, and that fuel was escaping from both main fuel tanks. He elected to make return to the departure airport and land on the opposite direction runway. The pilots were both manipulating the controls when they landed the airplane “hard” on the main landing gear. The airplane then bounced and veered to the right of the runway, impacting a terminal sign and taxi light. The hard landing and subsequent runway excursion resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6643H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6643H-2024-10-29), registration cancelled 2024-10-29, S/N E-1667, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1667 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 6497.4 - Engines: Continental Aerospace Technologies IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 2023, 56 hours before - Departed: SCA, Sidney, OH - Airport: SCA, Sidney Muni, runway 05, 2,981 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2022; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,341 total, 360 in this make and model - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review November 22, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,562 total, 1,312 in this make and model, 1,492 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: EDJ, 17 nm away - METAR: KEDJ 122035Z AUTO 27014G20KT 10SM CLR 08/M05 A3031 RMK A01 ## 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 20231212021189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231212021189A), Dec 12, 2023: Beech A36, Sidney, OH, Substantial damage. Aircraft made hard landing bounced and came to rest off the side of the runway. Substantial damage to aircraft. No injuries. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193518. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (right seat pilot, PIC) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16538377&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%206120%20Form%20(Pugh)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (right seat pilot) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 646 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16551148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20Pugh_statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (left seat pilot) (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16538701&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%206120.1%20Accident%20Form%20(Toal)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (left seat pilot) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16539195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20Toal_statement-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (left seat pilot) (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16551379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20Toal%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16537514&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20Investigation%20Photos-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.