# NTSB LAX02LA233: Beech S35, N864T, St. Johns, AZ, July 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2002, 17:00 local (Jul 16, 2002, 00:00 UTC) - Place: St. Johns, AZ - Coordinates: 34.518611, -109.37889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5186&lon=-109.3789&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55289 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55289/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55289 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA233 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control following an encounter with a wind gust. ## 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 - gusts - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the airplane upon encountering a wind gust during landing rollout on runway 21. During the sequence, the left wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane veered off the runway. Before landing, the pilot had flown over the airport, observed its windsock, and received the automated weather information. Nothing unusual occurred during the final approach. Following the gust encounter, the pilot regained control of the airplane and redirected it back onto the runway. Five minutes earlier, the local weather report indicated that the wind was from 300 degrees at 4 knots. There were no reports of gusts. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2002, about 1700 mountain standard time, a Beech S35, N864T, veered off the left side of the runway at St. Johns Industrial Airpark, St. Johns, Arizona. The airplane's wing contacted the runway's surface and sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from the Shepard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas, about 1300. The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that she had flown over the St. Johns Industrial Airpark and observed its windsock. In addition, she had received the automated weather information before landing. The pilot did not report that anything unusual occurred during the final approach. However, after touching down on runway 21, an unexpected gust of wind was encountered that raised the airplane's right wing. Then, the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and rolled into the dirt. According to the pilot, seconds later she regained control of the airplane and redirected it back onto the runway. The pilot subsequently reported that her difficulty controlling the airplane resulted from encountering the wind gust. At 1655, the St. Johns local weather report indicated that the wind was from 300 degrees. Its speed was 4 knots. There were no reports of gusts. The pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on October 12, 2001. Her total flight time was about 214 hours. The pilot's total experience flying the model of accident airplane was about 100 hours. No completed National Transportation Safety Board "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report" form 6120.1/2 was received from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N864T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N864T-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N D-7580 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech S35 - Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7580 - Airframe hours: 1400 - Engines: Continental IO-520-B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rae Gleason - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SPS, Shepard AFB, TX - Destination: SJN, St. Johns, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SJN, St. Johns Industrial Airpark, runway 21, 3,400 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 12, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 214 total, 100 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KSJN ## 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 20020715025139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020715025139A), Jul 15, 2002: Beech S35, St Johns, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) As aircraft touched down pilot experienced wind gust from opposite direction of prevailing winds. Right wing lifted, left wing drug ground, aircraft… ## Other investigations on N864T (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 FTW67D0123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67D0123), Jul 26, 1966: Beech S35 (N864T), Lubbock, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55289. 10 KB in all. - No Docket Items (item 1, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40215623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=No%20Docket%20Items%20-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.