# NTSB NYC00LA060: Beech C-23, N2116W, Manassas, VA, December 29, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 1999, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Manassas, VA - Location: 38.7230° N, 77.5154° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at Washington Manassas Harry P. Davis Field (HEF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7230&lon=-77.5154&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48425 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48425/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate remedial action to recover the airplane from porpoising during the landing roll out. ## 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 - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis While landing on a 5,700 foot long, 100 foot wide, asphalt runway, the airplane began to 'porpoise strongly.' The pilot said he tried to stabilize the airplane's attitude and maintain directional control with the power at idle; however, the airplane's nose wheel collapsed and the propeller contacted the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot purchased the airplane about 1 month prior to the accident, and he reported 14 hours of total flight experience in make and model. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 1999, about 1230 Eastern Standard Time, a Beech C-23, N2116W, was substantially damaged while landing at the Manassas Regional/Harry P. Davis Field Airport (HEF), Manassas, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Leesburg Executive Airport, Leesburg, Virginia, about 1200. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was landing on Runway 34R, a 5,700 foot long, 100 foot wide, asphalt runway. In a written statement, the pilot described the approach to the runway as normal; however, after touchdown the airplane began to "porpoise strongly." The pilot said he tried to stabilize the airplane's attitude and maintain directional control with the power at idle; however, the airplane's nose wheel collapsed and the propeller contacted the ground. The airplane then departed the right side of the runway, and came to rest in a grass area. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot reported he had accumulated 210 hours of total flight experience. He purchased the accident airplane about 1 month prior to the accident, and reported 14 total flight hours in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2116W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2116W-2012-08-09), registration cancelled 2012-08-09, S/N M-1481, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C-23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1481 - Airframe hours: 2541 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Floyd G. Patterson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 1999, 24 hours before - Departed: JYO, LEESBURG, VA - Destination: HEF - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HEF, Manassas Regional, runway 34R, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 14 in this make and model, 115 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HEF ## 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 19991229045969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991229045969A), Dec 29, 1999: Beech C23, Manassas, VA, No damage. (-23) A/c landed on rwy 34R @hef. During landing roll the a/c porpoised, left the rwy and collapsed the nose gear. 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.