# NTSB LAX97LA318: Beech A23A, N2339W, Tucson, AZ, September 8, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1997, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.200328, -110.950248 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2003&lon=-110.9502&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29898 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA318 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29898/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA318 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a stall and impact with the terrain (runway). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - initiated, pilot in command - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The student pilot was returning to the originating airport from his first solo cross-country flight. He reported that the stall warning horn came on before the airplane touched down, about 30 feet past the numbers, then the plane bounced into the air about 10 feet. The student said he realized that the airplane was at too slow an airspeed, and he attempted to execute a go-around by adding full power. The airplane climbed to approximately 20 feet in the air, then the stall warning horn sounded again. The airplane then banked to the left and impacted the ground. The student said he did not believe that there were any mechanical malfunctions that may have contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1997, at 1030 hours mountain standard time, a Beech A23A, N2339W, bounced into the air and subsequently drug the left wing on the runway after an unsuccessful go-around attempt at La Cholla Airpark, Tucson, Arizona. The aircraft was destroyed during the impact sequence, and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated at La Cholla Airpark at an undetermined time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was the first solo cross-country flight for the student pilot. The intended route of flight was La Cholla, Bisbee, Wilcox, and then back to La Cholla. The student pilot was interviewed by an FAA Operations Inspector on September 10, 1997. The inspector stated that the pilot reported that the stall warning horn came on before he touched down on the runway. The student pilot said he touched down about 30 feet past the "numbers" on the runway. After landing, the airplane bounced into the air about 10 feet. The student pilot said he realized that the aircraft was too slow and added full power to execute a go-around. He estimated that he was approximately 10 to 20 feet in the air when the stall warning horn went off again. The aircraft banked to the left and descended with the left wing hitting the ground first. The airplane went off the left side of runway 19. The student pilot said he did not believe that there were any mechanical malfunctions that may have contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2339W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2339W-1999-06-18), registration cancelled 1999-06-18, S/N M-938 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A23A - Registry model: [Beech A23A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23a) (registry code 1151208) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M938 - Airframe hours: 1704 - Engines: Continental IO-346 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Allen Peterson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 1997, 95 hours before - Departed: P33, WILCOX, AZ - Destination: 40E - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 40E, La Cholla Airpark, runway 19, 4,600 × 36 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 54 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TUS, 22 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 19970908026009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970908026009A), Sep 8, 1997: Beech A23A, Tucson, AZ, Destroyed. Bounced. Began go around. Wing stalled hit runway. A23 cartwheeled off runway. On first solo cross country. 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.