# NTSB NYC01LA008: Beech BE-23-B24R, N68HW, Fork Union, VA, October 10, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 10, 2000, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Fork Union, VA - Coordinates: 37.760269, -78.259437 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7603&lon=-78.2594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50433 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50433/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate flare which resulted in a hard landing. A factor related to the accident was the uneven landing area condition. ## Analysis The airplane touched down on its main landing gear prior to a dirt road that crossed the runway, followed by the nose gear touching down about 18 feet farther. The pilot felt the nose gear fail and attempted to keep the nose of the airplane off the ground. The airplane then veered to the right, impacted a tree and came to rest in a wooded area. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined fractured pieces of the nose wheel assembly, which were found on the ground prior to the dirt road that crossed the runway. The inspector did not observe any beach marks, fracture lines, corrosion, or progressive scoring on the fracture surfaces. The inspector added that the fracture surfaces were "clean, typical of overload failure." The inspector additionally stated that the runway had a down-sloping crown on both ends of the runway. The pilot did not report any previous problems with the nose gear and that the turf was in good condition. The pilot additionally stated that, while flaring, "when you drop the nose, the runway is higher than normal." ## Factual narrative On October 10, 2000, about 1400 Eastern Daylight Time, a Beech BE-23-B24R, N68HW, was substantially damaged while landing at the F.U.M.A. Airport, Fork Union, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was landing on Runway 34, a 3,575-foot long, 100 foot wide, grass strip. He stated that, while flaring, "when you drop the nose, the runway is higher than normal." The airplane touched down on its main landing gear prior to a dirt road that crossed the runway, followed by the nose gear touching down about 18 feet farther. The pilot felt the nose gear fail and attempted to keep the nose of the airplane off the ground. The airplane then veered to the right, impacted a tree and came to rest in a wooded area. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined fractured pieces of the nose wheel assembly, which were found on the ground prior to the dirt road that crossed the runway. The inspector did not observe any beach marks, fracture lines, corrosion, or progressive scoring on the fracture surfaces. The inspector added that the fracture surfaces were "clean, typical of overload failure." The inspector additionally stated that the runway had a down-sloping crown on both ends of the runway. The pilot did not report any previous problems with the nose gear and that the turf was in good condition. The pilot said he had landed the airplane on grass strips "many times" in the past. The winds reported at a nearby airport were from 290 degrees at 5 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uneven (contributing factor) - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68HW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68HW-2004-10-25), registration cancelled 2004-10-25, S/N MC-404, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE-23-B24R - Registry model: [Beech B24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b24r) (registry code 1151253) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MC-404 - Airframe hours: 3711 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George R. Schell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: ORF, NORFOLK, VA - Destination: VA36 - Airport: VA36, F.U.M.A. Airport, runway 34, 3,575 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 865 total, 800 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CHO, 23 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 20001010039279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001010039279A), Oct 10, 2000: Beech B24R, Forkunion, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot attempted a landing on grass runway. Landing technique caused overload of nose gear drag brace and subsequent failure. Nose gear partially… 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.