# NTSB GAA18CA413: Beech T34, N6849C, Dallas, TX, July 9, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2018, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Dallas, TX - Coordinates: 32.684444, -96.872779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6844&lon=-96.8728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA413 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97739/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97739 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA413 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech T-34A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1152008), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech T-34A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1152008), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech T-34A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1152008), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech T-34A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1152008), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during an airplane checkout, he performed a simulated engine failure. He added that, during the landing flare, the airplane "ran out of energy," and the right wing struck the runway. The flight instructor reported that, about 5 ft above the runway, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, and the right wing dropped and struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during an airplane check out, he performed a simulated engine failure. During the landing flare, the airplane "ran out of energy" and the right wing struck the runway. The flight instructor reported that, about 5 ft above the runway, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and the right wing dropped and struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6849C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6849C), registered now, S/N G-118, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech T34 (A) - Registry model: [Beech T-34A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-t-34a) (registry code 1152008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470-13A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-13a) (registry code 17405, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: G-118 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 5333.2 - Engines: Continental O-470-13A 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum - Registered owner: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2018 - Departed: RBD, Dallas, TX - Destination: RBD, Dallas, TX - Airport: RBD, Dallas Executive, runway 13, 6,451 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 7, 2018; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,478 total, 31.6 in this make and model, 14,518 as pilot in command, 138.6 in the last 90 days, 46.4 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,311 total, 3,043 as pilot in command, 184 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 7.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KRBD ## 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 20180709009489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180709009489A), Jul 9, 2018: Beech T-34A, Dallas, TX, Substantial damage. During landing, the aircraft stalled five feet off the ground. Upon stall the right wing tip drug the ground and the aircraft landed on the landing gear,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97739. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.