# NTSB FTW02LA049: Beech BE-50, N432L, Altus, OK, November 16, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 16, 2001, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Altus, OK - Coordinates: 34.69889, -99.338058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6989&lon=-99.3381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53893 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53893/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA049 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and his failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis Fog was encountered during the day IFR cross-country flight and the pilot elected to divert to a nearby municipal airport. The single-engine land rated private pilot inadvertently landed the multiengine airplane at a military base. Subsequently, the airplane departed from the military base en route to the municipal airport. During the landing at the municipal airport, the airplane landed hard, bounced, departed the runway, rolled through a ditch, and the nose landing gear collapsed. Numerous attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot were unsuccessful. ## Factual narrative On November 16, 2001, approximately 1500 central standard time, a Beech BE-50 twin engine airplane, N432L, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Altus Mountain Regional Airport (AXS), near Altus, Oklahoma. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The single-engine land rated private pilot did not receive injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at Altus; however, the aircraft encountered fog along the planned route and diverted to Altus. The flight originated from Altus Air Force Base. A flight plan was not filed. The pilot reported that during an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to Slaton, Texas, a fog bank, which extended to the ground, was encountered about 20 nautical miles from Altus, Oklahoma. The pilot elected to land the airplane at AXS, but inadvertently landed at Altus Air Force Base. Subsequently, the aircraft departed the military base and landed at AXS. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the airplane landed hard, bounced, and departed the runway. Subsequently, the airplane rolled through a ditch, collapsing the nose landing gear. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed structural damage to both engine mounts, and the nose landing gear assembly. Additionally, the generator mounting pad for the left engine was damaged, and the propeller blades were bent aft. The hobbs meter reading was 2,383.1 hours. The previous owner of the airplane reported that the airplane had been sold to the pilot approximately 2 weeks prior to the accident. Numerous attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N432L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N432L-2013-04-16), registration cancelled 2013-04-16, S/N CH-164, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE-50 - Registry model: [Beech C-50](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c-50) (registry code 1152510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (registry code 41527, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CH-164 - Airframe hours: 2383.1 - Engines: Lycoming GO-480-14AG 295 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rodger C. Seratt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: POF, Altus, OK - Destination: AXS, Altus, OK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AXS, Altus Mountain Regional, runway 17, 5,501 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total ## 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 20011116034519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011116034519A), Nov 16, 2001: Beech C50, Altus, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft landed hard, bounced and on rollout all three landing gear collapsed. The propellers were damaged, the right engine mount upper legs broke.… ## Other investigations on N432L (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX66F0164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66F0164), Dec 2, 1965: Beechcraft C50 (N432L), Reno, NV, substantial damage 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.