# NTSB LAX06CA162: Beech BE23, N8750M, Kingman, AZ, May 5, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 5, 2006, 08:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Kingman, AZ - Coordinates: 35.259445, -113.938056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2594&lon=-113.9381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63639 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63639/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA162 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to attain/maintain a proper glide path, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - proper glidepath - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - wake turbulence - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The airplane encountered wake turbulence and landed hard. The student pilot was on a solo flight practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. While the accident airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern, a twin engine airplane touched down on the runway surface. The accident airplane turned onto final approach and encountered wake turbulence about 5 to 6 feet above the runway surface. The airplane's left wing immediately lifted up about 45 degrees. The pilot recovered to a wings-level attitude just prior to the airplane slamming down on the runway surface. As a result of the hard impact, the nose wheel collapsed and a fire erupted as the airplane slid down the runway; fire consumed the airplane. The student pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The airplane landed hard and was consumed by a post-impact fire. The student pilot was on a solo flight practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. While the accident airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern, a twin engine airplane touched down on the runway surface. The accident airplane proceeded onto final approach and encountered wake turbulence about 5 to 6 feet above the runway surface. The airplane's left wing immediately lifted up about 45 degrees. The pilot recovered to a wings-level configuration just prior to the airplane slamming down on the runway surface. As a result of the hard impact the nose wheel collapsed and a fire erupted as the airplane slid down the runway; fire consumed the airplane. The student pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Weather recorded by the destination airport's Automated Surface Observing System about 25 minutes prior to the accident indicated calm winds. The student pilot reported 68 hours total flight time and 20 hours of pilot-in-command (solo) flight time. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 90-23F, Aircraft Wake Turbulence, states that wake turbulence (vortices) are generated once the aircraft lifts off because wake turbulence (trailing vortices) are a by-product of wing lift. The advisory circular notes that when landing behind a larger aircraft on the same runway, the smaller aircraft should stay at or above the larger aircraft's final approach flight path and land beyond its touchdown point in order to avoid the wake turbulence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8750M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8750M-2017-03-06), registration cancelled 2017-03-06, S/N M-538, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE23 - Registry model: [Beech 23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-23) (registry code 1151202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-538 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: IGM, Kingman, AZ - Destination: IGM, Kingman, AZ - Airport: IGM, Kingman Airport, runway 21, 6,831 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 68 total, 68 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: IGM ## 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 20060505006719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060505006719A), May 5, 2006: Beech 23, Kingman, AZ, Destroyed. (-23) On may 05, 2006 at Kingman Airport Kingman, AZ., at approximately 0830, student pilot [privacy data omitted] owner and operator of a Beechcraft BE-23-23,… 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.