# NTSB FTW99LA203: Beech C23, N6712W, Tulsa, OK, July 23, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1999, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Tulsa, OK - Location: 36.1984° N, 95.8881° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TULSA INTL (TUL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1984&lon=-95.8881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46929 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46929/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA203 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During final landing approach the airplane touched down hard resulting in substantial damage. The pilot was demonstrating a power off landing. During the landing flare, he noticed that his 'aiming point' was 'moving in the wrong direction.' He 'immediately tried to add power and as [he] was doing this [he] arrived at the ground - 3 pointed the aircraft, which resulted in damage.' The pilot stated that the runway had 'a large drop from about 50 percent of the length to the north.' He further stated that he thought 'the gradual loss of headwind when [he] descended below the crest of the runway, and the resultant loss of translational lift, allowed an increase in descent rate that went undetected until the flare.' ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1999, at 1600 central daylight time, a Beech C23 airplane, N6712W, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Tulsa International Airport, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airline transport rated pilot and his pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to Tulsair Beechcraft Inc. of Tulsa and operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight, which originated from Wichita, Kansas, approximately 1500. According to the pilot, he was demonstrating a "power off landing when out of normal approach position." On final approach to runway 18R, "all appeared normal." The "airspeed was 60 kts," and the rate of descent was "approximately 500 feet/min." During the landing flare, the pilot noticed that his "aiming point" was "moving in the wrong direction." He "immediately tried to add power and as [he] was doing this [he] arrived at the ground - 3 pointed the aircraft, which resulted in damage." The pilot stated that runway 18R "has a large drop from about 50 percent of the length to the north." He further stated that he thought "the gradual loss of headwind when [he] descended below the crest of the runway, and the resultant loss of translational lift, allowed an increase in descent rate that went undetected until the flare." An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the right main and nose landing gear assemblies were separated, the firewall was buckled, and the left wing's forward spar was damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6712W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6712W-2001-09-10), registration cancelled 2001-09-10, S/N M-2251 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-2251 - Airframe hours: 2401 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4R 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David L. Williams - Registered owner: Tulsair Beechcraft Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 1998, 47 hours before - Departed: BEC, WICHITA, KS - Destination: TUL - Airport: TUL, Tulsa International, runway 18R, 6,101 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 13,400 total, 8 in this make and model, 11,600 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F ## 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 19990723009659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990723009659A), Jul 23, 1999: Beech C23, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. Gear collapsed on touch down. (.4) during final landing approach the airplane touched down hard resulting in substantial damage. The pilot was demonstrating a… 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.