LAX05LA247

NTSB accident investigation · Beech B23 · Fallbrook, CA · July 29, 2005

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 29, 2005, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
Place
Fallbrook, CA
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6121NBeech B23
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 31, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20050729029329A
Case key
62104

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

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.

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
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - aircraft parked/standing

Analysis

The airplane veered off the runway and collided with an unoccupied parked airplane following the pilot's loss of directional control during the landing rollout. The pilot's approach to the airport was normal, and the airplane touched down without mishap near the centerline of runway 18. The wind was from 180 degrees, at 8 knots. The pilot said the airplane swerved left after he applied brakes and he could not regain control. Left and right tire skid marks were observed on the tarmac leading from the runway to the accident airplane. No evidence was found or any mechanical malfunction with the airplane's brakes, wheels, or tires.

Factual narrative

On July 29, 2005, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, the private pilot flying a Beech B23, N6121N, experienced a loss of directional control during landing rollout on runway 18 at the Fallbrook Community Airpark, Fallbrook, California. The airplane veered left, exited off the side of the runway, and impacted an unoccupied Cessna 180 that was parked on the tarmac. The Beech was substantially damaged. The pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, sustained a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Grass Valley, California, about 1030.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his approach to the airport was normal, and the airplane touched down without mishap near the centerline of the runway. The wind was from 180 degrees, at 8 knots.

In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report" he indicated that the airplane swerved sharply to the left immediately after he applied right and left brakes. Repeated application of right brake appeared to have no effect on straightening the airplane, which continued veering left until exiting the runway. The pilot stated to the Safety Board investigator that his airplane's left brake seemed to partially lock up during the landing rollout, and thereafter he was not able to maintain directional control.

Responding airport personnel reported observing evidence of both left and right wheel tire tread (skid marks) on the tarmac leading from the runway to the accident airplane. Under the Safety Board investigator's direction, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel and a contract FAA certificated mechanic examined the airplane. In summary, both wheels were found to turn freely and brake application produced normal results. No evidence of any mechanical malfunction with the airplane's brakes, wheels, or tires was found.

Aircraft

Registration
N6121N
Reported as
Beech B23
Category
Airplane
Serial number
M-1208
Airframe hours
3,416
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A2G, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Arnold Adicoff
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 1, 2005 · 23 hours before
Departed
O17 · Grass Valley, CA
Destination
L18 · Fallbrook, CA
Airport
L18 · Fallbrook, runway 18, 2,160 × 60 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
78
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 1, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,875 total · 220 in this make and model · 1,875 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.