# NTSB LAX93LA137: Beech A36, N43Y, Santa Ana, CA, February 24, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1993, 13:43 local (21:43 UTC)
- Place: Santa Ana, CA
- Coordinates: 33.6706, -117.899414 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6706&lon=-117.8994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27938
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27938/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA137

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE APPROACH REFERENCE AIRSPEED.  FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LOW EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - weather condition - gusts
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vref) - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - runway light
  - object - sign

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID HE MONITORED THE ATIS WHILE INBOUND TO RUNWAY 19R AND THAT THE REPORTED WINDS WERE FROM 230 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. WHILE ON DOWNWIND THE PILOT SAID HE OBSERVED A TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT LAND, 'NOTING THE CRAB ANGLE FOR CROSS WIND EFFECTS.' THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT HEAR THE LOCAL CONTROLLER PROVIDE 'GUST ADVISORIES' WHILE HE WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE PILOT SAID THAT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY 'WE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT THAT BROUGHT US TO (THE) RUNWAY AND BACK UP TO ABOUT 40 FEET AGL.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND BUT THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND NEAR THE RUNWAY EDGE AND THEN LEFT THE PAVEMENT AND RAN INTO THE GRASS AREA BETWEEN THE RUNWAYS. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL RUNWAY SIGNS AND SHEARED OFF THE LANDING GEAR. TRANSCRIPTS OF RECORDED AIR TO GROUND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEQUENCED BEHIND ANOTHER AIRCRAFT AND CLEARED TO LAND AT 1340:37. AT 1341:39, THE CONTROLLER IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST BY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT FOR THE CURRENT WINDS BROADCAST 'WIND TWO FOUR ZERO AT ONE TWO.' THE OFFICIAL WEATHER OBSERVATION TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THE WINDS FROM 270 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43Y), registered now, S/N E-576, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-576
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James C. Bunnell
- Registered owner: Thomas D. Evans
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: AVX, AVALON, CA
- Airport: SNA, John Wayne Orange County, runway 19, 5,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 281 total, 11 in this make and model, 281 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNA, 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 19930224003379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930224003379A), Feb 24, 1993: Beech A36, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing came down off runway. Struck signs. Slid backwards collapsed landing gear. Gusty crosswind.

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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