# NTSB LAX07CA174: Beech 76, N5090M, Pahokee, FL, May 23, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2007, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Pahokee, FL - Coordinates: 26.779443, -80.692497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7794&lon=-80.6925&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65902 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65902/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA174 ## Probable cause the flying pilot's inadequate compensation for the known gusty crosswind conditions, and failure to maintain proper alignment with the landing runway. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The flying pilot said he flared the airplane too high during landing and bounced, then on the attempted go-around it landed hard in a side drift and the right main landing gear was sheared off. The airplane came to an abrupt stop after the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilots said the winds were from 070 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 22 during the landing attempt on runway 35. They also reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2007, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Beech 76, N5090M, landed hard and collapsed the landing gear at the Pahokee, Florida, airport. Ari Ben Aviator, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The two pilots on board, both private pilots, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight. The flight departed St. Lucie County International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida, at 1715, en route to Palm Beach County Glades Airport (PHK), Pahokee. No flight plan had been filed for the flight to PHK. According to both pilots, the purpose of the flight was to build flight hours. They had decided to make a short VFR flight to PHK to practice landings. They split the preflight duties; the left seat pilot was to check the weather and NOTAMS, and the right seat pilot was to perform the preflight inspection. The left seat pilot was to fly the first leg to PHK, and the right seat pilot would work the radios. Both pilots also reported that the airplane performed normally and there were no mechanical problems. In the left seat pilot's written statement he indicated that after practicing landings at PHK, they were going to activate their IFR flight plan and fly to several different area airports before returning to FPR. Prior to arrival at PHK, the right seat pilot attempted to pickup weather conditions. He switched over to CTAF and asked for airport advisories. Two other airplanes, one arriving and one departing, reported that they were landing on runway 17. The left seat pilot noted that they landed fast, and when they taxied past the windsock realized that the wind was favoring runway 35, and that they had landed with a tailwind. Prior to the next takeoff, the left seat pilot reported to CTAF that they were switching runways and taking off on runway 35; which would provide them with a headwind for landing. The left seat pilot performed one more landing without incident. He reported that on the accident flight, as soon as the other pilot had performed the go-around, and he retracted the flaps, a strong gust of wind from the right blew the airplane off of the runway. The right seat pilot indicated that he decided to fly from the right to make the transition to his CFI training easier. His first landing at PHK was uneventful. On his second landing, the accident landing, he flew the approach with 10 degrees of flaps, and added another 10 degrees on short final. When the airplane crossed the threshold the pilot noted an indicated airspeed of 85 knots. The pilot reported that his flare was too high and the airplane bounced on the right main landing gear, which was "crabbed into the wind." The left seat pilot called out to go-around. The right seat pilot added power, and the other pilot retracted the flaps. He also said that as he added power the airplane banked "severely to the left," which placed it in a right wing low nose down attitude. He immediately reduced the throttles to idle and leveled the wings. The airplane landed hard on its right main landing gear, which sheared off, and impacted the trailing edge of the right flap. As the airplane continued in a forward direction, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to an abrupt stop. The pilots said the winds were from 070 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 22. They both reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5090M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5090M), registered now, S/N ME-34, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 76 - Registry model: [Beech 76](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-76) (registry code 1153005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: ME-34 - Airframe hours: 8602 - Engines: Avco Lycoming LO-360-A1G6D 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O-360-A1G6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ari Ben Aviator, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2007, 1 hours before - Departed: FPR, FORT PIERCE, FL - Destination: PHK, Pahokee, FL - Airport: PHK, Palm Beach Co Glades, runway 35, 4,116 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 206 total, 150 in this make and model, 148 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 58 in this make and model, 113 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 14 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: OBE, 30 nm away ## 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 20070523010829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070523010829A), May 23, 2007: Beech 76, Pahokee, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was on final approach for landing, and had selected 20 degrees of wing flaps "as it was gusty." Over the end of the runway he reduced engine… 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.