# NTSB MIA02LA071: Beech C-24R, N18891, Bayou La Batre, AL, March 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 2002, 16:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Bayou La Batre, AL - Coordinates: 30.454721, -88.210556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4547&lon=-88.2106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54389 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54389/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54389 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft directional control while executing a go-around, resulting in an inflight collision with trees. ## 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) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, his landing attempt resulted in a high flare, hard touchdown, and bounce. His attempt to go around resulted in a left drift off the left side of the runway and collision with adjacent trees due to his failure to attain the proper climb speed and to maintain directional control. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 2002, about 1650 central standard time, a Beech C-24R, N18891, registered to Delta Beech LLC, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in the vicinity of Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane incurred substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot and a passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Mobile, Alabama, about 20 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, his landing attempt on Roy E. Ray Airport's runway 18 resulted in a high flare and hard touchdown and bounce. He decided to execute a go-around, but did not retract flaps to a normal takeoff setting. He stated that the aircraft would not climb, simply stayed in ground effect, and drifted off the left side of the runway into a small stand of brush and trees. He and his passenger were not injured, and egressed the wrecked aircraft under their own power. The pilot stated there were no abnormalities or malfunctions of the aircraft. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot-in-command allowed the aircraft to get too slow on approach, resulting in a hard landing. During the pilot's resultant go-around attempt, he lost control of the aircraft, drifted left, and impacted trees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18891](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18891-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N MC-515, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C-24R - Registry model: [Beech C24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c24r) (registry code 1151254) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MC-515 - Airframe hours: 5088 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Delta Beech, LLC - Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 2001, 52 hours before - Departed: BFM, Mobile, AL - Destination: 5R7, BAYOU LA BATRE, AL - Airport: 5R7, Roy E. Ray, Bayou La Batre, runway 18, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 477 total, 167 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KBFM, 12 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 20020324004159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020324004159A), Mar 24, 2002: Beech C24R, Bayou La Batre, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot in command allowed the aircraft to get too slow on approach, resulting in hard landing, applied power to go around, lost control, drifted to left… ## Other investigations on N18891 (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 MIA87LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA101), Mar 9, 1987: Beech C24R (N18891), Milton, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54389. 390 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.