# NTSB MIA89LA116: Beech B55, N3122W, Sarasota, FL, March 28, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1989, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Sarasota, FL
- Location: 27.3383° N, 82.5437° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sarasota, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3383&lon=-82.5437&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32414
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32414/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA116

## Probable cause

UNEVEN RUNWAY CONDITION (SUNKEN SPOT).

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (cause)
- Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS TAKING OFF FROM THE ROUGH GRASS PRIVATE STRIP & WAS APCHG 70 MPH, WHEN THE RGT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT THEN VEERED INTO A CANAL WHICH PARALLELED THE RWY. WITNESSES STATED THE RGT GEAR APPEARED TO STRIKE A SUNKEN SPOT ON THE RWY JUST AS THE GEAR COLLAPSED. FAA PSNL EXAMINED THE ACFT & NOTED DAMAGE TO THE GEAR THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE WITNESS OBSERVATIONS.  ALL DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE IMPACT RELATED. THE 15-YR-OLD ACFT WITH 3125 AIRFRAME HRS HAD BEEN OPERATING FROM THIS ROUGH STRIP FOR THE PREVIOUS 10 YRS.  THE GEAR HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO HEAVIER THAN NORMAL LOADS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR AN ANNUAL INSPN IN ABOUT 3 DAYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3122W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3122W-1991-02-04), registration cancelled 1991-02-04, S/N TC1633 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-1633
- Airframe hours: 3125
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-E2 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rusty Plumbing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1988, 120 hours before
- Departed: 60X
- Destination: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL
- Airport: 60X, Gator Creek, runway 36, 2,400 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,500 total, 3,800 in this make and model, 8,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ, 13 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 19890328004869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890328004869A), Mar 28, 1989: Beech 95B55, Sarasota, FL, Substantial damage. Right main gear collapsed as it hit a sunken spot on sod runway. Gear had been stressed by long use of rough field.

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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