- Date
- September 13, 2003, 13:53 local (20:53 UTC)
- Place
- Kneeland, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N258SJBeech 58
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030913023239A
- Case key
- 57934
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
poor braking action due to the undulating runway surface and crumbling asphalt resulting in an on ground encounter with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the necessity for the pilot to fly an increased approach angle due to the trees at the approach end, a displaced threshold, short runway length, and descending embankment in proximity to the runway surface.
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.
Analysis
All of the landing gear collapsed after the pilot experienced poor braking action and intentionally maneuvered the airplane off the left side of the runway. During the landing roll on runway 33, the pilot experienced poor braking action due to a deteriorated runway surface. About 200 feet from the end of the runway he intentionally initiated a left turn in an attempt to keep from going off the end of the runway and down a 500-foot embankment. The airplane departed the left side of the runway surface onto a dirt area adjacent to the displaced threshold. The airplane went down a descending embankment and all three landing gear collapsed as the airplane continued the left turn. The airplane came to rest with the right wing on a berm. There was an undulating surface on the northwest end of runway 15/33. Runway 33 has a steep approach angle due to trees on the approach path to the 40-foot displaced threshold. Runway 33 is 2,270 feet in length and has a 0.05 percent up runway gradient. The runway asphalt surface is oxidized and deteriorating with fractured surface areas and open seams. The wind was 5 knots and variable out of the west. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with any system during the event.
Factual narrative
On September 13, 2003, at 1353 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 58, N258SJ, intentionally departed the left side of runway 33, collapsed the landing gear, and came to rest on a berm while landing at the Kneeland, California, airport. The airplane was owned by Helicopter Express, Inc., and operated for company business transportation under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Eureka, California, at 1345.
The pilot reported that during his landing on runway 33, he experienced poor braking action. The airport had a 500-foot drop at the departure end. About 200 feet from the end of the runway, the pilot intentionally initiated a left turn in an attempt to keep from going off the end of the runway and down the embankment. The airplane departed the left side of the runway surface onto a dirt area adjacent to the displace threshold. The airplane went down a descending embankment and all three landing gear collapsed as the airplane continued the left turn. The airplane came to rest with the right wing on a berm.
The northwest end of runway 15/33 had an undulating surface. Trees are in the approach path and runway 33 has an approach ratio of 32:1 to the 40-foot displaced threshold. There is a 40-foot drop-off that is 40 feet from the threshold. Runway 33 is 2,270 feet in length, and has a 0.05 percent up runway gradient. The pilot provided pictures of the runway asphalt surface, which is oxidized and deteriorating with fractured surface areas and open seams.
The pilot reported that the wind was variable out of the west about 5 knots.
In his written statement, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with any system during the event.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N258SJ
- Reported as
- Beech 58
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TH-1258
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-B, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Helicopter Express Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- ACV · Eureka-Arcata, CA
- Destination
- O19 · Kneeland, CA
- Airport
- O19 · Kneeland Airport, runway 33, 2,270 × 50 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- June 3, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,900 total · 500 in this make and model · 220 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- ACV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.