# NTSB WPR09LA221: Raytheon A36, N3224Q, Bullhead City, AZ, April 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 2009, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Bullhead City, AZ - Coordinates: 34.888053, -114.616386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8881&lon=-114.6164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73757/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73757 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA221 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswinds and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon A36, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7150001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7150001), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7150001), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Raytheon A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7150001), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Raytheon A36, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7150001), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Raytheon A36, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7150001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis As the flight approached its destination, the pilot listened to the automated surface observation station weather report at an airport located about 7 nautical miles north of the destination airport. According to the pilot, the wind at the nearby airport was out of the northwest at 10 mph gusting to 15. The pilot stated that he flew over the destination airport and determined that the winds were as reported at the nearby airport. The final approach to Runway 35 appeared normal to the pilot, and he noticed a crosswind presence. The pilot commented that the "airplane was responding as usual, and there was no indication of severe gusting or any unusual wind condition." The pilot said that as the airplane touched down, "an extreme unpredictable northwest dust devil and/or whirlwind hit the front of my airplane causing the airplane to veer to the right." The airplane veered to the right, exited the runway, and impacted bushes adjacent to the runway. The nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing tip fuel tank and left aileron were bent and wrinkled. About 1 hour before the accident, the reported wind at the nearby airport was from 270 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Near the time of the accident, the reported wind was from 300 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 22 knots. About 1 hour after the accident, the reported wind was from 300 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 22 knots. Based on the reported gusty northwest winds, it appears likely that what the pilot called a "northwest dust devil and/or whirlwind" was actually a gust of wind from the northwest. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2009, approximately 1000 mountain standard time, a Beech A36, N3224Q, sustained substantial damage when it veered off the runway during the landing roll and impacted bushes at Eagle Airpark, Bullhead City, Arizona. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight. The personal flight originated from Chino, California, approximately 1 hour before the accident. As the flight approached Eagle Airpark, the pilot listened to the automated surface observation station weather from Needles Airport, Needles, California, located about 7 nautical miles north of Eagle Airpark. According to the pilot, the wind at Needles was "out of the northwest at 10 mph gusting to 15." The pilot reported that he flew over the Eagle Airpark to determine present wind and any unusual conditions at the airport. He determined that "the winds were as reported at Needles." The pilot stated that the final approach to runway 35 "appeared normal," and he "noticed a crosswind presence." The "airplane was responding as usual, and there was no indication of severe gusting or any unusual wind condition." The pilot stated that as the airplane touched down, "an extreme unpredictable northwest dust devil and/or whirlwind hit the front of my airplane causing the airplane to veer to the right." The airplane exited the right side of the runway and impacted bushes about 5 to 10 feet from the edge of the runway. The nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing tip fuel tank and left aileron were bent and wrinkled. Recorded data from Needles Airport's automated surface observation station indicated that at 0856 the wind was from 270 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 18 knots. At 0956, the wind at Needles was from 300 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots. At 1056, the wind at Needles was from 300 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3224Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3224Q), registered now, S/N E3224, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY A36 - Registry model: [Raytheon A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-a36) (registry code 7150001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E3224 - Airframe hours: 835 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2008 - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Destination: A09, Bullhead City, AZ - Airport: A09, Eagle Airpark, runway 35, 4,800 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 3,200 total, 200 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 12 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: EED, 7 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 20090408007089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090408007089A), Apr 8, 2009: Beech A36, Bullhead City, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On 04-08-2009 at approximately 1000 MST, N3224Q (a BE-A36) departed runway 35 while landing at Eagle Airpark (A09) near Bullhead City AZ. METAR records… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73757. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 975 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315815&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315816&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - CruiseAir Aviation Repair Scope Description (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315818&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CruiseAir%20Aviation%20Repair%20Scope%20Description-Redacted.PDF 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.