- Date
- May 6, 2018, 15:06 local (19:06 UTC)
- Place
- Gainesville, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N406PABeech 58
- Defining event
- Landing: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180506004789A
- Case key
- 97341
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 pilot’s failure to maintain a proper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
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 pilot reported that, during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, the airplane hit the runway unexpectedly, and he initiated a go-around by adding full power. He added that the airplane struck the runway again, but he continued the go-around. Subsequently, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport and landed without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 13 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot attempted to land on runway 29.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during landing in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane hit the runway unexpectedly, and he initiated a go-around by adding full power. He added that, the airplane struck the runway a second time, but he continued the go-around. Subsequently, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport and landed without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 13 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot attempted to land on runway 29.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N406PA
- Reported as
- Beech 58 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TH-1338
- Built
- 1982
- Airframe hours
- 5,402.5
- Engines
- Continental IO-520-CB9F, reciprocatingContinental IO-520-CB9F, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 12, 2017
- Departed
- LUK · Cincinnati, OH
- Destination
- GVL · Gainesville, GA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- GVL · Lee Gilmer Memorial, runway 29, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 27, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,633 total · 1,373 in this make and model · 26 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Turbulence
- Moderate
- Observed at
- KGVL
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 542 KB 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.