# NTSB LAX02LA221: Beech 58P, N4458S, Santa Ana, CA, February 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 2, 2002, 18:23 local (Feb 3, 2002, 02:23 UTC) - Place: Santa Ana, CA - Coordinates: 33.681667, -117.869163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6817&lon=-117.8692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55204 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55204/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55204 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA221 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to remain above the landing Boeing 757's glide path resulting in an encounter with wing tip vortices, a loss of directional control after touchdown, and collision with taxiway signs. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Vortex turbulence encountered, landing - flare/touchdown - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - wake turbulence - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - sign ## Analysis The airplane landed hard on the runway and hit two taxiway signs following a wake turbulence encounter on final approach. A Boeing 757 landed about 5 minutes prior to the accident airplane. While on downwind the pilot made a 360-degree turn for wing tip vortex avoidance. Just before touchdown, the airplane hit a "bump" and became "uncontrollable." The airplane landed hard to the right side of the runway and struck two taxiway signs. The pilot aborted the landing, and took off again. When he saw that his aircraft was still positioned over the runway, he decided to land instead of continue the takeoff. Upon touchdown a second time, the airplane veered to the left side of the runway. According to a written statement submitted by Federal Aviation Administration ATC personnel, the pilot followed the glide path of the Boeing 757. The airplane flew into the wing tip vortices approximately 50 to 75 feet from landing at a point behind where the 757 had touched down. The pilot failed to land beyond the Boeing 757's touchdown point, as suggested in the Aeronautical Information Manual. ## Factual narrative On February 2, 2002, about 1823 Pacific standard time, a Beech 58P twin-engine airplane, N4458S, landed hard on runway 19R, and hit two taxiway signs at the John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport (SNA), Santa Ana, California. The airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot (ATP), the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed the San Luis Obispo County Airport (SBP), San Luis Obispo, California, about 1723. The flight was scheduled to terminate at SNA. According to SNA tower personnel, a Boeing 757 (B757) landed about 5 minutes prior to the accident airplane. While on downwind, the tower informed the accident pilot that a B757 was landing and asked him if he would like to make a 360-degree turn for spacing due to possible wing tip vortices. The pilot elected to perform the maneuver, and then proceeded to land. The pilot stated that just before touchdown his airplane hit a "bump" and became "uncontrollable." The airplane landed hard to the right side of the runway past taxiway Juliet and struck two taxiway signs. The pilot aborted the landing. He attempted to takeoff; however, he noticed his airplane remained positioned over the runway and decided to land rather than continue the takeoff. He landed a second time near taxiway Hotel. The airplane started to veer to the left and came to rest on the left side of runway 19R near taxiway Echo. Upon further inspection, it was noted that the left main landing gear scissor link had broken. During repair work, structural damage was observed. The incident was upgraded to an accident on July 9, 2002. According to a written statement submitted by Federal Aviation Administration personnel, the pilot followed the glide path of the B757. The airplane flew into the wing tip vortices approximately 50 to 75 feet from landing at a point behind where the 757 had touched down. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), "Under certain conditions, airport traffic controllers apply procedures for separating IFR aircraft. The controllers will also provide to VFR aircraft with whom they are in communication and which in the tower's opinion may be adversely affected by wake turbulence from a lager aircraft, the position, altitude, and direction of flight of larger aircraft followed by the phrase 'CAUTION - WAKE TURBULENCE.' WHETHER OR NOT A WARNING HAS BEEN GIVEN, PILOTS ARE EXPECTED TO ADJUST THEIR OPERATIONS AND FLIGHT PATH(S) AS NECESSARY TO PRECLUDE SERIOUS WAKE ENCOUNTERS." The AIM continues by offering the following advice for aircraft landing behind a larger aircraft: "Stay at or above the larger aircraft's final approach flight path - note its touchdown point - land beyond it." The National Transportation Safety Board attempted to contact the pilot on numerous occasions, and sent two written requests for the pilot/owner to complete Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), but there was no response. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4458S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4458S), registered now, S/N TJ-58, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 58P - Registry model: [Beech 58P](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58p) (registry code 1152744) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TJ-58 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William K. Gamble - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SBP, San Luis Obisbo, CA - Destination: SNA, Santa Ana, CA - Airport: SNA, John Wayne Airport-Orange Coun, runway 19R, 5,701 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: SNA ## 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 20020202000629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020202000629A), Feb 2, 2002: Beech 58P, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. (-23)Pilot stated that his airplane hit a bump just before landing and became uncontrollable. The airplane landed on the right side of runway 19R just passed… ## Other investigations on N4458S (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX93LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA105), Jan 22, 1993: Beech 58P (N4458S), Pacoima, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH, HIS USE OF AN EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN BOTH MULTI ENGINE… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55204. 495 KB in all. - Weather Information (item 1, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40215617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - FAA Memo (item 2, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386282&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Memo-Redacted.PDF - Major Repair Alteration Form and Description of Damage (item 3, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Major%20Repair%20Alteration%20Form%20and%20Description%20of%20Damage-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Requests (item 4, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20Requests-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from AIM (item 5, .PDF, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40215621&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20AIM-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.