# NTSB SEA07LA253: Beech F33A, N7298R, La Verne, CA, September 8, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2007, 19:00 local (Sep 8, 2007, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: La Verne, CA
- Coordinates: 34.091667, -117.781669
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0917&lon=-117.7817&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66613
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA253
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66613/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA253

## Probable cause

An improper flare during touchdown and an inadequate bounced landing recovery.  Contributing to the accident was an excessive airspeed and an inadvertent porpoise.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot said that his approach to landing was normal, but he flew the base leg a little wide. He reported that his airspeed on short final approach was too fast, and the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane landed hard, porpoised, and landed hard again on its nose gear. The nose gear collapsed under the fuselage crushing the engine cowling and bending the keel beam.

## Factual narrative

On September 7, 2007, at 1900 Pacific daylight time, a Beech F-33A, N7298R, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Brackett Field Airport (POC), La Verne, California. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured.  The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which originated from Red Bluff, California, approximately 3 hours before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

The pilot said that he had departed Victoria International Airport (CYYJ), Sidney, Canada, at 1230. He stopped at Friday Harbor, Washington, for customs, and proceeded to Red Bluff, California, for fuel. The weather had been good and the flight had been uneventful. He said that his approach to Brackett Field was normal, but he flew the base leg a little wide. His short final speed was too fast, and the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane landed hard, porpoised, and landed hard again on its nose gear. The nose gear collapsed under the fuselage crushing the engine cowling and bending the keel beam.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7298R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7298R), registered now, S/N CE-557, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech F33A
- Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CE-557
- Airframe hours: 4196
- Engines: Continental IO-550-B4F 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lawrence R. Manzer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007
- Departed: RBL, Red Bluff, CA
- Destination: POC, La Verne, CA
- Airport: POC, Brackett Field Airport, runway 26L, 4,839 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,050 total, 1,962 in this make and model, 1,954 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: ONT, 11 nm away

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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