# NTSB FTW93LA130: Beech C23, N2150W, Searcy, AR, April 15, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 1993, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Searcy, AR - Location: 35.2411° N, 91.7352° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Searcy, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2411&lon=-91.7352&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18729/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA130 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FOR A BOUNCED LANDING. THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND WERE FACTORS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis A PILOT LANDING ON RUNWAY 19 FAILED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING CROSSWIND RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ABORT THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ASSUMING AN EXAGGERATED NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AFTER HE BECAME AIRBORNE. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE LEFT WING IMPACTED THE GROUND BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND A PARALLEL TAXIWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THE WINDS TO BE FROM 225 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT 'AN EXTREME 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND GUST WAS BLOWING THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 1993, at approximately 1845 central daylight time, a Beech C23, N2150W, was substantially damaged while landing at the Searcy Municipal Airport, near Searcy, Arkansas. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the ferry flight. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was recently purchased by the Coastal Carolina Aero Club, and was being ferried from Seattle, Washington, to Ocean Isle Beach, in North Carolina. According to a witness at the airport, the airplane was observed in the traffic pattern for runway 19 flying at low speed. The witness added that the airplane was in a level attitude at approximately ten to twelve feet off the runway surface when it dropped, landed hard, bounced once, and rolled for some distance before the pilot added power to attempt to abort the landing. The witness further stated that during the attempted aborted landing, the airplane was observed in an exaggerated nose high attitude until control was lost. He estimated that the winds were blowing from the southwest at 8 knots. The pilot stated that after the wheels touched down on the runway, "an extreme 90 degree crosswind gust was blowing the airplane off the runway." He added that he attempted to make a go around and was airborne before control was lost. The left wing impacted the grass area between the runway and a parallel taxiway. Post accident inspection of the airframe revealed that in addition to the left wing spar being separated from the fuselage, the left main landing gear, nose landing gear, and propeller were also damaged. The wreckage was verbally released to the owner's representative by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2150W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2150W-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N M-1576, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1576 - Airframe hours: 1546 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Coastal Carolina Aero Club - Registered owner: Coastal Carolina Aero Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1992, 14 hours before - Departed: PWA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Airport: M07, Searcy Municipal, runway 19, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 120 total, 120 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 13 knots - Visibility: 13 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LRF, 31 nm away ## 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 19930415009429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930415009429A), Apr 15, 1993: Beech C23, Searcy, AR, Substantial damage. Bounced on hard landing. Began nose high go around. Wing stalled. Impacted. Had drifted off runway prior impact. 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.