LAX02LA089

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 77 · Long Beach, CA · February 22, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 22, 2002, 12:54 local (20:54 UTC)
Place
Long Beach, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N38026Beech 77
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 30, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20020222002189A
Case key
54244

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

A loss of directional control due to the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - crosswind
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - fence

Analysis

During rollout from a touch-and-go landing on runway 25L, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, and collided with a fence. According to the student pilot, his landing had been normal, but when he retracted the wing flaps he observed the airplane veering left of course. Despite his efforts, he was unable to regain directional control. The student pilot indicated that during the mishap he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane. The accident occurred during the student pilot's second solo flight in the airplane. Two minutes after the accident the local wind was reported at 200 degrees. Its speed was 6 knots.

Factual narrative

On February 22, 2002, at 1254 Pacific standard time, a Beech 77, N38026, collided with a fence after veering off runway 25L while landing at the Long Beach Airport, Long Beach, California. The airplane was operated by Hart Aviation, Long Beach. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the solo instructional flight. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Long Beach about 1245.

The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he had authorized his student to practice touch-and-go landings in the traffic pattern. The accident occurred during the student's second solo flight in the airplane.

The student reported that, during the accident flight, he had performed a normal landing on runway 25L. The airplane touched down on the runway's centerline with the wing flaps fully extended. The student planned to perform a touch-and-go, so during rollout he retracted the flaps. As the flaps were retracting, he noticed that the airplane was veering left of course. The student indicated that he attempted to maintain directional control by applying right rudder pressure, but the airplane continued veering left of course. The airplane exited the side of the runway, rolled over a grassy area, and impacted a fence.

At 1256, the local wind at the airport was reported coming from 200 degrees. Its speed was 6 knots. In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," he indicated that during the mishap he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N38026
Reported as
Beech 77
Category
Airplane
Serial number
WA-202
Airframe hours
8,189
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Hart Aviation, Inc.
Registered owner
Kriss A. Bennett
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · October 6, 2001 · 86 hours before
Departed
LGB · Long Beach, CA
Destination
LGB · Long Beach, CA
Airport
LGB · Long Beach, runway 25L, 5,420 × 150 ft, asphalt

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
Student pilot
Age
44
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
49 total · 46 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 30 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
LGB

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 417 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.