# NTSB ERA25LA128: Beech A36, N321TB, Alton Bay, NH, February 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 23, 2025, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Alton Bay, NH · Ice Lake - Coordinates: 43, -71 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0000&lon=-71.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025 - 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): 199759 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199759/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199759 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA128 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path during the landing approach, which resulted in in the airplane contacting a snowbank short of the runway. ## 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 A36, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 A36, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying a standard traffic pattern to approach an ice runway on a frozen lake. The pilot described that she flew the final approach lower and slower than usual due to the known lack of braking action on the ice. The pilot stated that, based on an online video viewed the night before, she used an icy snowbank as the aiming point for landing. During the approach, the airplane was too low and slow, and the airplane’s nose and right main landing gear contacted the snowbank. The impact resulted in the nose pitching downward and the propeller striking the ice. The airplane then pivoted on the ice and came to rest with the tail positioned in the snowbank on the right side of the displaced threshold, just short of the runway. The airplane’s right wing 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: [N321TB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N321TB), registered now, S/N E-1998, built 1982 (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-1998 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 9473 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B89B-10 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2024, 53 hours before - Departed: ASH, Nashua, NH - Destination: B18, Alton, NH - Airport: B18, Alton Bay, runway 1, 2,600 × 100 ft, ice - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 854 total, 94 in this make and model, 772 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: PSM, 9 nm away - METAR: KPSM 231255Z 24009KT 10SM FEW040 SCT060 BKN110 M00/M09 A2998 RMK AO2A SLP156 T10051087 ## 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 20250223001809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250223001809A), Feb 23, 2025: Beech A36, Alton, NH, Substantial damage. On 2/23/25 at about 0909 local time a bonanza A36 impacted terrain about 20 feet short of runway 01 at Alton Bay Airport (B18) NH. The aircraft sustained… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199759. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18491924&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA128_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18493209&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA128-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.