# NTSB IAD00LA031: Beech 23, N1923L, Selinsgrove, PA, April 3, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 2000, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Selinsgrove, PA - Coordinates: 40.820556, -76.863891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8206&lon=-76.8639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD00LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48887/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD00LA031 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate correction for torque, which resulted in a loss of directional control of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - torque/p-factor - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings. During an approach to a landing, he initiated a go-around. As he applied full throttle, the airplane entered a "hard left bank," and the student pilot countered with right rudder. The airplane struck the ground in a left-wing-down attitude. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and the winds were aligned with the runway at 6-9 knots. The student pilot had accumulated a total of 42 hours of flight time. According to the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, "during takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left-turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path." ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2000, about 1740 eastern daylight time, a Beech 23, N1923L, was substantially damaged during a go-around attempt at Penn Valley Airport (SEG), Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the student pilot stated that he arrived at the airport around 1200, and completed a preflight inspection of the airplane. He departed runway 17 and performed several touch-and-go landings before he flew to the local practice area. The student pilot then returned to the airport, and performed a full-stop landing. After a break for lunch, he returned to the airplane and departed runway 17, to practice additional touch-and-go landings in the traffic pattern. He then performed another full-stop landing, and took another break. The student pilot departed runway 17 a third time, for more touch-and-go landing practice. During the approach of the third landing, he initiated a go-around. As the student pilot applied full throttle, the airplane entered a "hard left bank" and the pilot "counter controlled," by applying right rudder. The airplane impacted a grass area between the runway and the taxiway, in a left bank. The student pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and stated that the winds were "pretty much aligned with the runway," at 6-9 knots. He purchased the airplane two days prior to the accident, and had accumulated 42 hours of total flight experience. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the wings and fuselage of the airplane were wrinkled, and the engine was separated from the airplane. The FAA Inspector reported that the pilot had performed approximately 15-20 landings, throughout the day. The winds reported at the airport, at the time of the accident, were from 180 degrees at 8 knots. According to the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: "During takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left-turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1923L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1923L-2000-07-21), registration cancelled 2000-07-21, S/N M-1826 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1826 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven Eaton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SEG, PA - Airport: SEG, Selinsgrove, runway 17, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 44 total, 13 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SEG ## 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 20000403043589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000403043589A), Apr 3, 2000: Beech C23, Selingsgrove, PA, Destroyed. (-23) Landing on runway 17 at Penn valley (seg), aircraft stalled approximately 10 feet above the ground. Aircraft drifted left. Pilot attempted to correct,… 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.