# NTSB MIA04LA081: Beech A23A, N3659Q, Crystal River, FL, May 8, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 2004, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Crystal River, FL - Coordinates: 28.867221, -82.571388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8672&lon=-82.5714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59204 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59204/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA081 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and incurring damage. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot stated the approach as well as the landing flare/touchdown at Crystal River Airport, was normal, but about 50 feet after the initial touchdown the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway, crossed a grass median and taxiway, coming to rest in a ditch, incurring structural damage. An FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that the accident airplane made tire skid marks 3000 feet down the runway in the vicinity of a taxiway entrance/exit to the runway, and an examination of the accident aircraft's brake system revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2004, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Beech A23A, N3659Q, registered to and operated by a private individual, veered off the runway during landing rollout at Crystal River Airport, Crystal River, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated the same day, from Pilot Country Airport, Spring Hill, Florida, about 1250. The pilot stated that while landing at Crystal River Airport, after a normal landing flare/touchdown and initial rollout, about 50 feet beyond his touchdown point the airplane suddenly veered to the left, departing the runway. He stated that he attempted to use the right brake and nose wheel steering to control the airplane, but it seemed that the right brake either "locked up" or provided no braking at all, and the airplane exited the runway incurring damage. An FAA inspector who responded to the accident, stated that the airplane departed the runway at about 3,000 feet down the landing runway in the vicinity of a taxiway entrance/exit to the runway. He further stated that after the airplane departed the runway, it impacted a runway sign, crossed a grass median and a taxiway, and came to rest in a ditch about a 100 yards from the runway. The inspector further stated that he examined the accident aircraft's brake system, and no anomalies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3659Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3659Q-2007-05-02), registration cancelled 2007-05-02, S/N M-1043, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A23A - Registry model: [Beech A23A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23a) (registry code 1151208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-346 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-346-series) (registry code 17033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1043 - Airframe hours: 2200 - Engines: Continental IO346A 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David M. Velzke - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 2004, 1.5 hours before - Departed: X05, Spring Hill, FL - Destination: CGC, Crystal River, FL - Airport: CGC, Crystal River, runway 9, 4,555 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 22, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 141 total, 7 in this make and model, 101 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: BKV, 27 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 20040508017389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040508017389A), May 8, 2004: Beech A23A, Crystal River, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 08, 2004, at approximately 1400 EDT, a Beech BE-23-A23A, N3659Q, registered to david m. velzke, collided with a drainage embankment adjacent to… 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.