# NTSB ERA24LA146: Beech A23 24, N200AG, Somerset, PA, March 16, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 16, 2024, 15:02 local (19:02 UTC) - Place: Somerset, PA - Coordinates: 40.038503, -79.015296 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0385&lon=-79.0153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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): 193967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193967/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193967 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA146 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control, and the flight instructor’s lack of remedial action during a landing attempt in a gusty wind, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151226), [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 A23-24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot owned the airplane and was receiving instruction in it. The student pilot was attempting to land in a gusty wind on runway 25, a 5,002-ft-long, 75-ft-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane initially touched down on the runway, but then “ballooned” back into the air. The airplane subsequently drifted right off the runway and the student pilot attempted abort the landing; however, the airplane descended and struck a runway sign. It came to rest upright in a grass area between the runway and the taxiway. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the left flap and left main landing gear had separated. Additionally, the left wing and right elevator sustained substantial damage. The examination did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The recorded wind about the time of the accident was from 250° at 11 knots, gusting to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N200AG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N200AG), registered now, S/N MA-285, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A23 24 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Beech A23-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23-24) (registry code 1151226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MA-285 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4017 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2023, 80 hours before - Airport: 2G9, Somerset County Airport, runway 25, 5,002 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 32 total, 21 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2023; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,115 total, 18 in this make and model, 1,803 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: 2G9 - METAR: METAR K2G9 161855Z AUTO 25011G19KT 10SM CLR 09/00 A2979 ## 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 20240316002659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240316002659A), Mar 16, 2024: Beech A23-24, Friedens, PA, Substantial damage. On March 16, 2024, at approximately 1438 hours local time, a flight was conducted to allow a student pilot to regain his ninety (90) day solo currency. The… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193967. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17042278&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Written pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16941055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Written%20Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memoranda for the record (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17047835&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFRs-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16941275&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 616 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16941184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.