# NTSB LAX92LA391: Beech D17S, N9465H, Reno, NV, September 17, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1992, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.480133, -119.739181 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4801&lon=-119.7392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 27766 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA391 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27766/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA391 ## Probable cause THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A VARIABLE TAILWIND CONDITION AND THE SOFT, ROUGH NATURE OF THE TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS HIRED TO FERRY THE AIRCRAFT TO AN AIRCRAFT AUCTION IN RENO. ONE FLIGHT ATTEMPT WAS ABORTED DUE TO A BAD LEFT BRAKE AND ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE BRAKE WERE UNSUCCESFUL. THE NEXT DAY, PARTS HAD BEEN LOCATED AND THE BRAKE HAD AGAIN BEEN REPAIRED. THE BRAKES TESTED SATISFACTORILY BY THE PILOT AND THE TRIP WAS MADE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LANDING WAS VERY SMOOTH AN ALMOST THREE POINT ATTITUDE ON THE CENTERLINE. HE SAID THE TAILWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN IMMEDIATLY AFTER THE MAIN GEAR AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT NOTED THAT FULL LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE WERE APPLIED, BUT THE RUDDER WAS INEFFECTIVE AT IDLE POWER AND SLOW SPEED, AND, WITHOUT A LEFT BRAKE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO EFFECT ANY CHANGE OF DIRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN SOFT SOIL AFTER LEAVING THE RUNWAY. WINDS AT THE TIME WAS REPORTED 130 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. IN FAA TOWER PERSONNEL STATEMENTS, THREE CONTROLLERS SAID THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON LANDING AND ONE CONTROLLER SAID THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED BACK AND FORTH ALL PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT EXITING THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT. THE PASSENGER WAS INTERVIEWED AND HE STATED THE LANDING APPEARED NORMAL TO HIM. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM THE RUNWAY SAFETY AREA A VISUAL AND STATIC TEST OF THE BRAKE PEDALS WAS PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9465H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9465H-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N 6898, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D17S - Registry model: [Beech D17S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d17s) (registry code 1150538) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6898 - Engines: P&W R-985-E-3 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard D. Russell - Registered owner: Richard Probert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 1992 - Departed: EMT, EL MONTE, CA - Airport: RNO, Reno Cannon, runway 34, 10,002 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 26,700 total, 10 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 1 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 19920917037049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920917037049A), Sep 17, 1992: Beech D17S, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. Bounced landing. Over controlled brakes and rudder. Veered off runway. Nosed over. Minimum time in tail dragger. ## Other investigations on N9465H (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX89DUM04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DUM04), Sep 30, 1989: Beech D175 (N9465H), El Cajon, CA, minor damage. Probable cause: INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT (N9645H). 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.