# NTSB MIA91LA080: Beech 58, N7278R, St. Thomas, February 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1991, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: St. Thomas
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32820
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32820/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA080

## Probable cause

EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE BY THE PILOT, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM THE PORPOISE CONDITION.

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED ON A FLAT APCH.  BOUNCE AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THEN LAND ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.  THE ACFT THEN PORPOISED A MINIMUM OF 4 TIMES BEFORE REMAINING ON THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7278R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7278R-1999-07-27), registration cancelled 1999-07-27, S/N TH-582 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH-582
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C7 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Heath, Alfred O
- Registered owner: Heath, Alfred O
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: STX, ST. CROIX
- Airport: STT, Cyril E. King, runway 1, 5,348 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 453 total, 33 in this make and model, 277 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STT, 1 nm away

## Other investigations on N7278R (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 CHI99LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA045), Dec 3, 1998: Beech 58 (N7278R), Ankeny, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the elevator control system jammed for undetermined reasons.

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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