# NTSB WPR17LA154: Beech D55, N1796A, Hailey, ID, July 14, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 13, 2017, 20:15 local (Jul 14, 2017, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Hailey, ID · On Airport - Coordinates: 43.503887, -114.29555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5039&lon=-114.2956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95593 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95593/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA154 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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: [Beech D55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech D55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Beech D55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1152730), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the multi-engine airplane's engines were "not synched up" during the landing flare and the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The airplane's airspeed began to decay, and the pilot applied left throttle and pitched the airplane's nose down to correct. The airplane subsequently yawed to the right, the right-wing tip impacted the ground, and the airplane landed sideways, collapsing the landing gear and resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have initiated a go-around upon first noticing the unequal engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2017, about 2015 mountain standard time, a Beech D55 twin-engine airplane, N1796A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hailey, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, just before he entered the landing flare, he realized that his engines were "not synced up" and the airplane began to drift to the right of the runway. The pilot then realized that the airplane was getting too slow, and he increased the power to the left engine and pitched the airplane's nose down. The airplane yawed to the right and the right wingtip impacted the ground. The airplane hit the ground sideways, and the landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage. The airplane slid off the runway and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1796A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1796A-2018-08-14), registration cancelled 2018-08-14, S/N TE-753, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D55 - Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-753 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 3993 - Engines: Continental Motors Inc. IO-520-C 280 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motors Inc. IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2017, 10 hours before - Departed: AOC, Arco, ID - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SUN, Friedman Memorial, runway 31, 7,550 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 463.4 total, 9 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KSUN ## 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 20170713009079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170713009079A), Jul 13, 2017: Beech D55, Hailey, ID, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed from eul, caldwell, ID to sun, Hailey id. The pilot reported aircraft approached sun from the southeast and once the PIC had the airport… ## Other investigations on N1796A (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX77DVA08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77DVA08), Oct 28, 1976: Beech D55 (N1796A), Bakersfield, CA, substantial damage 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.