# NTSB MIA97LA183: Beech B19, N59BW, New Smyrna Bch, FL, June 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 1997, 10:12 local (14:12 UTC) - Place: New Smyrna Bch, FL - Coordinates: 29.019304, -80.920219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0193&lon=-80.9202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38290 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38290/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA183 ## Probable cause the private pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear and the nose gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - misc eqpt/furnishings - not removed (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot had inadvertently left the towbar attached to the nosewheel. During the initial climb after takeoff, he was informed that something was attached to his nosewheel. He continued to his destination airport. During arrival, the airplane touched down hard on the left main landing gear, the nose pitched down, and subsequently, the left main landing gear and nosewheel failed. The airplane then veered to the left, departed the runway, and the left wing was damaged. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 1997, about 1012 eastern daylight time, a Beech B19, N59BW, registered to a Dair Enterprize Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on landing at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Daytona Beach, Florida, about 17 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane before he departed on the VFR flight to conduct touch-and-go landings at New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He inadvertently left the nosewheel tow bar attached to the airplane. On climbout, Daytona Beach tower informed him that something was attached to the nosewheel. He elected to continue to New Smyrna Beach. He made a VFR approach to runway 29 and was concentrating on keeping the nose high due to the tow bar. He landed hard on the left main landing gear and the nose pitched down on the nosewheel. The left main landing gear and the nose wheel separated, the airplane veered to the left, departed the runway, and the left wing collided with the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59BW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59BW-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N MB-508, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B19 - Registry model: [Beech B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b19) (registry code 1151215) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MB-508 - Airframe hours: 3712 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2C 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Arthur A. Dupont - Registered owner: Dair Enterprizes Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 28, 1997, 31 hours before - Departed: DAB, DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Destination: 34J - Airport: 34J, New Smyrna Bch Municipal, runway 29, 4,300 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 143 total, 41 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 13 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 20 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 19970615014139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970615014139A), Jun 15, 1997: Beech B19, New Smyrna Beac, FL, Substantial damage. Departed with towbar attached. ATC advised but flew to airport. Landed hard left main nose hit foled both and wing. (-23) the pilot took off from dab with the… ## Other investigations on N59BW (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 MIA77DKJ47](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DKJ47), Jun 12, 1977: Beech B19 (N59BW), Birmingham, AL, substantial damage 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.