# NTSB GAA17CA579: Beech 95 B55, N2182L, Statesville, NC, September 14, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 14, 2017, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Statesville, NC - Coordinates: 35.764999, -80.953887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7650&lon=-80.9539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96873 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA579 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96873/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96873 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA579 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger; cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the multi-engine airplane reported that the airplane touched down on the runway and she felt the application of aft yoke pressure. She looked over and saw that her right front seat passenger was "clenching the yoke with both fists." She reported that the airplane bounced once, and she aborted the landing. She flew one pattern and landed the airplane, and then she taxied to parking. According to the single-engine, pilot-rated passenger in the right front seat, during the initial touchdown, both engines remained at high rpm, and the airplane was drifting to the right side of the runway. The airplane bounced, and the pilot took the engines to idle. The airplane bounced again "very hard" on the nose landing gear. The airplane bounced a third time and landed "violently" on the nose landing gear. He reported that he felt the need to prevent a fourth runway impact, and he grabbed the yoke and applied aft pressure to minimize the rate of descent. The pilot in the left seat subsequently applied full power and aborted the landing. She flew one pattern and landed the airplane, then she taxied to parking. According to the passenger seated in the right rear seat, the approach was normal, but the initial touchdown was "forceful" and the airplane bounced. The airplane felt like it landed on the nose landing gear followed by the main landing gear and bounced a second time "much harder." A third bounce ensued, and it was the hardest. He heard the engines spool up and observed the pilot abort the landing. She flew one pattern and landed the airplane, and then she taxied to parking. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, just below the windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the multi-engine airplane reported that, the airplane touched down on the runway and she felt the application of aft yoke pressure. She looked over and saw that her right front seat passenger was "clenching the yoke with both fists." She reported that the airplane bounced once, and she aborted the landing. She flew one pattern and landed the airplane, and then she taxied to parking. According to the single engine pilot-rated passenger in the right front seat, during the initial touch down both engines remained at high RPM, and the airplane was drifting to the right side of the runway. The airplane bounced, and the pilot took the engines to idle. The airplane bounced again "very hard" on the nose landing gear. The airplane bounced a third time and landed "violently" on the nose landing gear. He reported that he felt the need to prevent a fourth runway impact, and he grabbed the yoke and applied aft pressure to minimize the rate of descent. The pilot in the left seat subsequently applied full power and aborted the landing. She flew one pattern and landed the airplane, then she taxied to parking. According to the passenger seated in the right rear seat, the approach was normal, but the initial touchdown was "forceful" and the airplane bounced. The airplane felt like it landed on the nose landing gear followed by the main landing gear and bounced a second time "much harder". A third bounce ensued, and it was the hardest. He heard the engines spool up and observed the pilot abort the landing. She flew one pattern and landed the airplane, and then she taxied to parking. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, just below the windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2182L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2182L), registered now, S/N TC-1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95 B55 ((T42A)) - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1996 - Year built: 1976 - Engines: Continental IO-540 reciprocating; Continental IO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: 92 Aviation LLC - Registered owner: 92 Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ILM, Wilmington, NC - Destination: SVH, Statesville, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SVH, Statesville Rgnl, runway 28, 7,003 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 31, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,018 total, 66 in this make and model, 1,883 as pilot in command, 176 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: right; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KSVH ## 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 20170914021669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170914021669A), Sep 14, 2017: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Statesville, NC, Substantial damage. Based upon written statements, during the landing phase of flight, the aircraft impacted the runway three times hard. After the third impact to the runway, the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96873. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464733&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement - Grice (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Grice-Master.PDF - Witness Statement - Williamson (item 3, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Williamson-Master.PDF - Witness Statement - Benton (Owner/Passenger) (item 4, .PDF, 362 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Benton%20(Owner%2FPassenger)-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF 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.