# NTSB IAD04CA004: Beech BE-55, N7202R, E. Stroudsburg, PA, December 9, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 9, 2003, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: E. Stroudsburg, PA
- Coordinates: 41.035831, -75.160552
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0358&lon=-75.1606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Allentown
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD04CA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58447/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04CA004

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the nose landing gear.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The airplane ballooned during the landing flare.  The pilot then applied a nose down correction and subsequently landed hard on the nose gear.  The nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop.

## Factual narrative

On December 9, 2003, about 1245 eastern standard time, a Beech BE-55, N7202R, was substantially damaged while landing at Stroudsburg-Pocono Airport (N53), East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.  The certificated commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the airplane was not operating on a flight plan.  The personal flight, which originated at Sullivan County International Airport (MSV), Monticello, New York, was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, the airplane ballooned during the landing flare.  The pilot then applied a nose down correction and subsequently landed hard on the nose landing gear.  The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop.

When asked what could have been done to prevent the accident, the pilot stated that he should have performed a go-around.

The weather reported at Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport (MPO) Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, 12 nautical miles to the northwest, at 1153, included variable winds at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 8,500 feet, temperature 28 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 19 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.16 inches of mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7202R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7202R), registered now, S/N TC-1819, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech BE-55
- 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-1819
- Airframe hours: 3400
- Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-470-L21 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William Pagano
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2003, 20 hours before
- Departed: MSV, Monticello, NY
- Destination: N53, E. Stroudsburg, PA
- Airport: N53, Stroudsburg-Pocono Airport, runway 8, 3,087 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 13, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,047 total, 120 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 85 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: KMPO, 12 nm away

## 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 20031209035579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031209035579A), Dec 9, 2003: Beech T42A, East Stroudsbur, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) During an attempted landing on runway 08 at the Stroudsburg Pocono airport (N53) in Stroudsburg, PA, the pilot touched down at a higher than normal rate…

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.

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