# NTSB WPR13CA261: Beech A23-24, N650VX, La Grande, OR, June 1, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 1, 2013, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: La Grande, OR - Coordinates: 45.289524, -118.01362 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2895&lon=-118.0136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87086/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87086 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA261 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control and the flight instructors failure to monitor the pilot during a simulated emergency 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: [Beech A23-24, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A23-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151226), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while flying with a certified flight instructor (CFI) for his biannual review, they were simulating an engine failure over the airport with the intent to land on the runway. After spiraling to traffic pattern altitude, the pilot entered a downwind leg for the runway. The pilot turned towards the runway and inadvertently stalled the airplane about 200 feet above the ground. The CFI took over the flight controls; the airplane struck the ground hard, broke off the right main landing gear, and bounced back into the air. The CFI climbed to a safe altitude and circled above the airport before conducting an uneventful landing onto the grass next to the runway. During the accident sequence, the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while flying with a certified flight instructor (CFI) for his biannual review, they were simulating an engine failure over the airport with the intent to land on the runway. After spiraling to traffic pattern altitude, the pilot entered a downwind leg for the runway. The pilot turned towards the runway and inadvertently stalled the airplane about 200 feet above the ground. The CFI took over the flight controls; the airplane struck the ground hard, broke off the right main landing gear, and bounced back into the air. The CFI climbed to a safe altitude and circled above the airport before conducting an uneventful landing onto the grass next to the runway. During the accident sequence, the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N650VX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N650VX), registered now, S/N MA-194, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A23-24 - Registry model: [Beech A23-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23-24) (registry code 1151226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MA-194 - Airframe hours: 2733 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hunt Russel And Anita - Registered owner: Hunt Russel And Anita - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 28, 2012, 11 hours before - Departed: LGD, La Grande, OR - Destination: GLD, La Grande, OR - Airport: LGD, La Grande/Union County Airport, runway 34, 3,876 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 544 total, 194 in this make and model, 480 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 76; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 3, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 5,524 total, 95 in this make and model, 5,145 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: LGD ## 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 20130601009499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130601009499A), Jun 1, 2013: Beech A23-24, La Grande, OR, Substantial damage. The CFI was simulating an engine-out exercise while conducting a bi-annual flight review. The private pilot receiving the flight review inadvertently stalled… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87086. 729 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 729 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394999&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.