# NTSB LAX89LA142: Beech C24R, N23972, Tucson, AZ, April 1, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1989, 08:37 local (15:37 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.150226, -110.930397 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1502&lon=-110.9304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26363
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26363/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA142

## Probable cause

PILOT MISJUDGED THE LANDING. THE PILOT BEGAN HIS FLARE TOO HIGH ABOVE THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF A BEECH C24R LANDED HARD ON RUNWAY 06 AT RYN, TUCSON, AZ. THE NOSE AND MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SLID OFF OF THE RUNWAY. DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 06. HE WAS ON ABOUT HIS EIGHTH LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE BEGAN HIS FLARE FOR LANDING TOO HIGH, ABOUT TEN FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE DROPPED IN HARD ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED FIRST, THEN THE RIGHT AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, ON ITS BELLY, INTO THE DIRT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23972](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23972-1992-02-26), registration cancelled 1992-02-26, S/N MC468 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C24R
- Registry model: [Beech C24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c24r) (registry code 1151254) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barton Hodes
- Registered owner: Hodes, Barton
- Airport: RYN, Ryan Fld., runway 6, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F

## 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 19890401005119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890401005119A), Apr 1, 1989: Beech C24R, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Leveled off too high for landing. Bounced, came down hard collapsing nose and left main gears.

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.

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