# NTSB FTW95LA095: Beech 33-A, N55VS, Lago Vista, TX, January 25, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 25, 1995, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Lago Vista, TX - Coordinates: 30.450227, -97.969184 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4502&lon=-97.9692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19340 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19340/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA095 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE A MISSED APPROACH AT MINIMUMS FOR THE NON-PRECISION APPROACH AND AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT DURING THE CIRCLE TO LAND MANEUVER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - drizzle/mist - weather condition - fog ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER EXECUTING A CIRCLING VOR/DME APPROACH, HE DID NOT HAVE VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE AIRPORT UNITL THE AIRPLANE WAS 'ALMOST ON TOP OF THE RUNWAY' AT 600 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). HE COMMENCED A DESCENDING, 'TIGHT' RIGHT TURN TO KEEP THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT. DESCENDING BELOW 300 FEET, THE PILOT CONTINUED A 'STEEP' TURN ON A 45 DEGREE BEARING TO THE RUNWAY TO INTERCEPT FINAL. HE STATED THAT AS HE 'STARTED TO LEVEL THE WINGS TO LAND, THE AIRCRAFT JUST DROPPED.' THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT 'THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.' THE PILOT REPORTED WEATHER CONDITIONS OF FOG AND DRIZZLE DURING THE APPROACH. THE PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH POINT FOR THE APPROACH WAS 5 MILES FROM THE FINAL APPROACH FIX AND 7/10 MILE NORTHWEST OF THE RUNWAY MIDPOINT. ## Factual narrative On January 25, 1995, at 1630 central standard time, a Beechcraft BE33-A, N55VS, was substantially damaged during landing near Lago Vista, Texas. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for the personal, cross country flight. The airplane departed Monroe Regional Airport (MLU), Monroe, Louisiana, approximately 1400 on an IFR flight to Lago Vista Airpark (5R3), Lago Vista, Texas. The pilot stated that most of the flight was flown above "solid overcast cloud layers" in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). The pilot further stated that he received Austin (AUS) ATIS information which reported the weather to be 1600 overcast and 7 miles visibility. Austin is located 20 miles southeast of Lago Vista. The pilot then executed the VOR/DME-A approach with the intent to "circle to land" on runway 33. According to the pilot, "the entire approach was flown in IMC." While on the approach, the pilot updated ATIS information which reported the weather to be 1800 overcast, 7 miles visibility. The published missed approach point (MAP) for the approach was 5 miles from the final approach fix (FAF) and 7/10 mile northwest of the runway midpoint. The published Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) was 1780 feet mean sea level (MSL). Lago Vista Airpark elevation 1231 feet MSL. The pilot further stated that he "did not have visual reference with the airport until the airplane was almost on top of the runway" at 600 feet above ground level (AGL). At this point, the pilot commenced a descending right turn and stayed "tight so as not to lose sight of the runway." He stated that the airplane was descending below 300 feet in a "steep turn on a 45 degree bearing to runway 33." He continued the steep turn to intercept final and as he "started to level the wings to land, the airplane just dropped." He further stated that "the right wing impacted the runway, and the airplane skidded off the side of the runway." Examination of the aircraft at the scene by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to both wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55VS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55VS), registered now, S/N CE-1305 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 33-A - Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BE-1305 - Airframe hours: 2000 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Puma Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MLU, MONROE, LA - Destination: 5R3, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 5R3, Lago Vista Airpark, runway 33, 3,804 × 50 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,727 total, 1,927 in this make and model, 2,727 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950125000779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950125000779A), Jan 25, 1995: Beech F33A, Lago Vista, TX, Substantial damage. On vod approach saw plane underneath. Made tight circle to keep airport in sight. Stalled onto runway. Skidded off. 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.