# NTSB LAX98LA142: Beech C23, N9144S, Tulare, CA, April 26, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1998, 09:11 local (16:11 UTC)
- Place: Tulare, CA
- Coordinates: 36.180725, -119.359848 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1807&lon=-119.3598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30073
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30073/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA142

## Probable cause

The malfunction of the nose wheel steering for undetermined reasons.

## 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
  - landing gear,steering system - malfunction
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During the landing rollout, the airplane departed the runway laterally and impacted a ditch 75 to 100 feet off the side of the runway.  The pilot stated that, after a minor directional correction to the right, the aircraft would not respond to left steering inputs until full rudder was applied.  At that time the aircraft entered an abrupt swerve to the left and departed the runway.  The aircraft was damaged to the extent that it was not possible to conduct a high speed taxi test to evaluate aircraft response to nosewheel steering commands.

## Factual narrative

On April 26, 1998, at 0911 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech C23, N9144S, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway laterally and impacted a ditch 75 to 100 feet off the side of the runway at Tulare, California.  The private pilot and one passenger were not injured and no property damage was incurred.  The flight had departed from Bakersfield, California, on a visual flight to Tulare.  No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.

The pilot stated in his report that, on the landing roll, he applied right rudder to correct his ground path to runway centerline.  When he applied left rudder to stop the turn, he got no aircraft response until he had applied full left rudder.  At that time the aircraft entered an abrupt left turn from which he could not recover before departing the runway surface.

The aircraft was damaged to the extent that it was not possible to conduct a high speed taxi test to evaluate aircraft response to nosewheel steering commands.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9144S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9144S-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N M-1767, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (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: M-1767
- Airframe hours: 2008
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kern Charter Service
- Registered owner: Ted C. Witt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 1998, 42 hours before
- Departed: L45, BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Destination: TLR, CA
- Airport: TUR, Mefford Field, runway 13, 3,914 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 92 total, 9 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KVI, 10 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 19980426007739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980426007739A), Apr 26, 1998: Beech C23, Tulare, CA, Substantial damage. Over corrected swerves on landing roll. Exited runway into a ditch. (.4) during the landing rollout, the airplane departed the runway laterally and impacted a…

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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