- Date
- December 24, 1997, 09:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place
- Lancaster, PA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4133SBeech BE-33A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971224039439A
- Case key
- 39521
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Passenger control interference which resulted in pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During the landing flare the stall warning horn activated. The pilot added a small of power and lowered the nose slightly when the passenger in the right seat grabbed the controls and overpowered her. The airplane pitched up, went wing over to the left and impacted the runway.
Factual narrative
On December 24, 1997, about 0955 eastern standard time, a Beech 33A, N4133S, was substantially damaged during landing at the Lancaster Airport (LNS), Lancaster Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot received minor injures, and the pilot rated passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Michael J. Smith Field Airport, Beaufort, North Carolina, about 0740. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated the flight was normal and routine until 2 feet above runway 08, when the stall warning horn activated. The pilot said she added a small amount of power, and lowered the nose slightly when the passenger in the right seat grabbed the controls and over powered her. The airplane then pitched up and stalled to the left. The left wing and nose impacted the ground, and the airplane slid onto runway 31. The pilot also stated that she did not experience any mechanical malfunctions prior to the time when the passenger grabbed the controls.
The LNS Air Traffic Controller witnessed the accident. In a written statement he stated:
"...Bonanza 4133S came in IFR, visual to runway 8, pilot made a normal approach. In landing flare, bounced and went vertical, then dropped off on the left wing, impacting runway 31 nose first, then fell back onto its belly..."
In a telephone interview, a witness who observed the airplane on approach stated the plane was in a wings level attitude, when it suddenly pitched up, then went "wing over" to the left.
On scene examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not disclosed any evidence of pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4133S
- Reported as
- Beech BE-33A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CE591
- Airframe hours
- 1,540
- Engine
- Continental IO520BA, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert B. Huber
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 8, 1997 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- MRH · Beaufort, NC
- Destination
- LNS
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- LNS · Lancaster, runway 8, 5,398 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 69
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,023 total · 600 in this make and model · 1,023 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 4° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LNS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4133S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.