MIA07CA010

The private certificated pilot was landing at night on a lighted runway. The airplane landed short of the paved runway, and collided with a dirt bank, collapsing both main landing gear. The pilot noted in his written report to the NTSB that the runway he elected to land on did not have a visual approach slope indicator (VASI), and was adjacent to the unlighted intercoastal waterway. He also stated that he added engine power during the final approach, but the "aircraft did not respond as anticipated.

On October 22, 2006, about 1958 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36, N200MW, registered to Sky King, Inc., experienced collapse of both main landing gears during the landing flare/touchdown at St. Augustine Airport, St. Augustine, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Savannah, Georgia, to St. Augustine Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1845, from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

The pilot stated that after takeoff, the flight proceeded to the destination airport where the automated terminal information service (ATIS) indicated the wind was from 270 degrees at 4 knots. He "elected" to land on runway 24, but landed on grass short of the runway causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The airplane veered to the left causing collapse of the right main landing gear; the airplane came to rest upright on grass off the left side of the runway. He and the passenger evacuated the airplane after it came to rest. The pilot further stated that runway 24 does not have visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights, and the approach to the runway is made over an intercoastal waterway without lights for normal visual references. He also stated that he added power on final approach, but the aircraft did not respond as anticipated.

Review of NTSB "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident//Incident Report" form signed and submitted by the pilot indicates he answered "left main collapsed", to the question "Was there a Mechanical/Malfunction Failure?" With respect to the report which asks for a description of damage to the airplane and other property, he reported, "Left gear strut came thru wing breaking rear spar."

According to the FAA inspector-in-charge, the airplane was landed at an embankment approximately 150 feet short of runway 24, causing both main landing gears to collapse. The nose landing gear remained extended.

A review of the airport revealed runway 24 is not equipped with precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights, nor VASI lights as indicated by the pilot.