# NTSB WPR19LA138: Beech 36, N6684Z, Reno, NV, May 5, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 4, 2019, 19:15 local (May 5, 2019, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.499168, -119.768058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4992&lon=-119.7681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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 Admnistration, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99399 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99399/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99399 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA138 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1151604), [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: [Beech A36, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151604), [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: [Beech A36, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the airplane in gusty wind conditions when he lost directional control of the airplane. After touchdown, the airplane veered off the runway to the left, despite the pilot’s corrective inputs. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway, struck two runway signs, and spun to the right before coming to a stop. An examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel would not center and that it pointed to the right. Impact damage was visible on the nosewheel strut assembly. Additionally, when the right rudder pedal was pushed to the full position, the right rudder was about 5° from full deflection. It could not be determined whether these anomalies were impact related. The airplane would have had right turning tendencies if the nosewheel condition existed during the landing. The pilot would have had less rudder authority available to counter the left turning tendencies if the rudder condition existed during landing. No other mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were observed. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing in strong, gusty wind conditions. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2019, about 1915 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36 airplane N6684Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he was landing on runway 25 when, despite his right rudder inputs, the airplane veered left off the runway. The airplane continued onto an intersecting runway, striking two runway signs and making a tight 360° turn to the right before stopping. The pilot stated that he was unaware of why he lost directional control of the airplane on the ground. About the time of the accident, the reported wind was from 310o at 15 knots, gusting to 29 knots. The airplane was examined by a certified airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic, under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. No anomalies were noted with the brake system or tires. The airplane was lifted on jacks to facilitate a landing gear examination. During the examination, the rudder pedals moved freely and there was no binding or anything impeding their movement. The left rudder was noted to fully deflect. However, when the right rudder pedal was pushed to the full position, the right rudder was about 5° from full deflection. Additionally, the nosewheel strut assembly exhibited impact damage. The nosewheel would not center and pointed slightly to the right. The investigation could not determine if the nosewheel and rudder were out of alignment before the accident or if their misalignment was due to impact damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6684Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6684Z-2020-07-10), registration cancelled 2020-07-10, S/N E-1611, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 36 (A36) - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1611 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3553.3 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2018 - Departed: SBA, Santa Barbara, CA - Destination: RNO, Reno, NV - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: RNO, Reno/Tahoe Intl, runway 25, 6,102 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 2,789 total, 2,330 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 15 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: KRNO, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20190504018079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190504018079A), May 4, 2019: Beech A36, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. After landing runway 25 at krno, aircraft veered off runway, hit two airport signs and came to rest on runway 35R causing substantial damage to the aircraft.… - [Accident 20190504022849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190504022849A), May 4, 2019: Beech A36, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed runway 25 at krno and upon landing veered left crossing taxiway c hitting two taxiway signs. The aircraft continued onto the cross-runway 34R… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99399. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9796078&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9840527&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20WPR19LA138-Rel.pdf - Maintenance manual excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9796437&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Chapter%2027,%20Flight%20Controls%20Rudder-Rel.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.