- Date
- October 1, 2016, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lawrence, KS
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4836JBeech 35
- Defining event
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 6, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20161001019749A
- Case key
- 94160
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in an unstabilized approach and collision with runway approach lights.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The flight instructor reported that he was conducting primary flight training in a complex, high-performance airplane. On final approach during daylight hours, the runway's precision approach path indicator (PAPI) indicated the airplane was low on the approach path. He advised the student pilot to reduce the rate of descent. He further reported that the student pilot "relaxed his white knuckle grip" and the airplane pitched down "significantly". The flight instructor grabbed the control yoke and applied full throttle, but the airplane struck the runway approach lights during the low altitude recovery. The flight instructor landed the airplane without further incident. A postaccident examination of the airplane, by the flight instructor, revealed the airplane was trimmed nose down and that the right wing had sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that he was conducting primary flight training in a complex, high-performance airplane. On final approach during daylight hours, the runway's precision approach path indicator (PAPI) indicated the airplane was low on the approach path. He advised the student pilot to reduce the rate of decent. He further reported that the student pilot "relaxed his white knuckle grip" and the airplane pitched down "significantly". The flight instructor grabbed the control yoke and applied full throttle, but the airplane struck the runway approach lights during the low altitude recovery. The flight instructor landed the airplane without further incident. A postaccident examination of the airplane, by the flight instructor, revealed the airplane was trimmed nose down and that the right wing had sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4836J
- Reported as
- Beech 35 (C33)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CD-1062
- Built
- 1966
- Airframe hours
- 7,480.2
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-K, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 15, 2016
- Departed
- LWC · Lawrence, KS
- Destination
- LWC · Lawrence, KS
- Airport
- LWC · Lawrence Muni, runway 33, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 9 total · 9 in this make and model
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 35 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- KLWC
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.