# NTSB WPR14LA102: Beech C90, N350WA, Columbia, CA, January 27, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 2014, 05:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Columbia, CA - Coordinates: 38.029445, -120.41333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0294&lon=-120.4133&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88718 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88718/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88718 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA102 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstabilized night visual approach, which resulted in a hard landing and the collapse of all three landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1152913), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C90, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1152913), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C90, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1152913), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Beech C90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=1152913), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1152913), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech C90, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1152913), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot, who was the pilot flying (PF), and the airplane transport pilot, who was the pilot not flying (PNF), were conducting an aeromedical positioning flight. The pilots reported that, during a night approach, they visually identified the airport, activated the runway lighting system, and then canceled the instrument flight plan for a visual approach. The PNF reported that, after turning onto the final approach, the flaps were fully lowered and that the airplane was in a "wings level, stabilized approach." The PF reported that he was initially using the vertical approach slope indicator (VASI) for guidance but that the airplane drifted below the glidepath during the approach, and he did not correct back to the glidepath. On short final, the pilots verified that the landing gear were in the down-and-locked position by noting the illumination of the three green landing gear indicator lights, and the airspeed indicator indicated 110 knots. Both pilots reported that the landing was "firm" and that it was followed by a loud bang and the subsequent failure of all three landing gear. The airplane slid on its belly for about 825 ft down the runway before coming to rest. Both pilots evacuated the airplane, which was subsequently consumed by a postaccident fire. Both pilots reported that the airplane was operating normally with no discrepancies noted. Postaccident examination of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the runway about 100 ft short of its displaced threshold. Broken components of the landing gear were located along the debris field, which extended about 565 ft beyond the initial impact point. It is likely that the PF's failure to correct and maintain the VASI glidepath after allowing the airplane to descend below the glidepath and the touchdown at a high descent rate resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent failure of all three landing gear. ## Factual narrative On January 27, 2014, about 0530 Pacific standard time (PST), a Beech C90 King Air, N350WA, experienced a hard landing at Columbia Airport (O22), Columbia, California. Axis Jet was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot and the airline transport pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces and the post-crash fire. The cross-country aero-medical positioning flight departed Sacramento, California, about 0500. Visual night meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The crew reported that the purpose of the flight was to pick up an aero-medical harvest team coordinator at O22 and fly them to San Luis Obispo, California. The crew reported no anomalies with the flight, airplane, or the approach to land at O22. The flying pilot (FP) was seated in the left seat and the non-flying co-pilot (NFP) was assisting the FP by performing the checklists and reporting speeds and other cockpit information to the FP. The NFP reported that after a turn to final approach full flaps were lowered, and that the airplane was in a "wings level, stabilized approach." The NFP also reported that on short final the gear was confirmed down for the 3rd time, and that the airspeed indicator indicated 110 knots. The pilots both described the landing as firm, and that as soon as the airplane contacted the runway they heard a loud bang followed by the airplane's belly scraping the runway. The airplane slid down the runway about 825 feet coming to rest on the left side of the runway. Both pilots observed fire on the left side of the airplane near the engine nacelle and evacuated the airplane. The airplane was subsequently consumed by the postaccident fire. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the crew reported after they identified the airport, activated the airport lighting system, and then canceled their instrument flight plan for a visual approach. The automated weather observation system (AWOS), reported more than 10 miles visibility, clear skies, and no wind. The temperature at the time was approximately 4 degrees Celsius with a dew point of -4 Celsius. The NFP reported that at approximately 5 miles to the airport the FP called for the 1st notch of flaps and then requested gear down on the final approach segment of the traffic pattern. Both pilots agree the landing gear was extended, and three green lights were illuminated indicating the gear was in fact down and locked. The NFP indicated that his eyes were in the cockpit calling out airspeeds, checking that the aircraft was in landing configuration, and watching the GPS unit for terrain warnings. The FP indicated that he was using the vertical approach slope indicator (VASI) initially for guidance but drifted below the glide path and did not correct back up to the glide path. FAA investigators examined the wreckage at the accident scene. Thefirst identified points of contact (FIPC) were three ground scars consistent with the geometry of the main landing gear and the nose wheel. The FIPC was located on the runway about 100 feet short of the displaced threshold. Broken components of the airplane landing gear were located in a debris field 175 feet to 565 feet beyond the FIPC. According to the FAA the gear was in the down and locked position at the time of the accident. Due to the postaccident fire examination of the airplane could not be performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N350WA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350WA-2014-10-28), registration cancelled 2014-10-28, S/N LJ-762, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C90 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Beech C90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c90) (registry code 1152913) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LJ-762 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 9501.6 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 550 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Eldorado Air LLC, doing business as Axis Jet - Registered owner: Coastal Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 12, 2013, 46 hours before - Departed: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA - Destination: O22, Columbia, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: O22, Columbia, runway 35, 4,673 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 26, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,939 total, 1,784 in this make and model, 2,580 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 19, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,658 total, 2,237 in this make and model, 5,950 as pilot in command, 77.3 in the last 90 days, 28.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: O22 ## 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 20140127002939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140127002939A), Jan 27, 2014: Beech C90, Columbia, CA, Destroyed. The aircraft departed ksac at approximately 0530 local time under instrument flight rules (IFR) in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and climbed to an… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88718. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441656&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 5 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF - FAA Report (item 3, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441658&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report-Master.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.