# NTSB IAD96LA068: Beech B55, N1580W, Lynchburg, VA, April 27, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 1996, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Lynchburg, VA - Coordinates: 37.359481, -79.219421 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3595&lon=-79.2194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28042/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve and landing gear collapse. A related factor was the strong crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot reported that when he completed his preflight inspection of the airplane, he noticed that the right main landing gear strut was flat. A mechanic inflated the strut, and the pilot took off. During the landing roll on runway 21 at the destination airport, when the nosewheel touched the runway, the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder and brake, but the aircraft exited the runway collapsing the main landing gear. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction and that the ground loop forces caused the main landing gear to collapse from side forces. The pilot stated that the winds were out of 240 degrees at 18 knots. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact anomaly. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 1996, at about 1430 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Beech B55, N1580W, registered to Triple S Dynamics Inc., of Dallas, Texas, sustained substantial damage when the main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll, at Preston Glenn Field, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The certificated commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The business flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Islip, New York, at approximately 1200 EDT. The pilot reported that, when he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane prior to departure, he noticed that the right main landing gear strut was flat. The pilot stated that a mechanic serviced (inflated) the strut prior to his departure. The pilot stated: "The approach and landing...was normal...a slight crosswind from [the] right at 240 (landing runway was 21) was easily corrected for, and touchdown was on the runway centerline, main wheels first. Immediately upon nosewheel contact, the airplane began a swerve to the left which I could not control, even with full right rudder and brake. The left turn continued, off the runway edge and into a soft grassy area. The ground loop forces collapsed the main gear from side forces." The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction, and indicated that he didn't know why the accident occurred. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The pilot's written statement indicated that the winds were out of 240 degrees at 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1580W (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech B55 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1443 - Airframe hours: 8500 - Engines: Continental IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Triple S Dynamics Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 1996, 17 hours before - Departed: ISP, ISLIP, NY - Destination: LYH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LYH, Preston Glenn Field, runway 21, 5,799 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,838 total, 6,700 in this make and model, 9,838 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 18 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19960427046649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960427046649A), Apr 27, 1996: Lynchburg, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he had a crosswind from the right. Immediately after touch down on runway 21, the aircraft departed the runway to the left. The main gear… 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.