# NTSB WPR23LA022: Beech V35B, N50JM, Nogales, AZ, October 20, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 20, 2022, 12:58 local (19:58 UTC) - Place: Nogales, AZ · KOLS - Coordinates: 31.427953, -110.83539 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4280&lon=-110.8354&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Textron Aviation - Chief Air Safety Investigator, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 106173 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106173/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106173 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to establish a positive rate of climb before retracting the landing gear when he executed an aborted landing, which resulted in a propeller strike, diminished climb performance, and the inadvertent contact with terrain. ## 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 V35B, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Explosion (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and his wife were at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. The pilot reported that he completed a normal approach and during touchdown the airplane veered to the left. After he was unsuccessful in his attempt to align the airplane with the runway using control inputs, the pilot elected to abort the landing, at which time he added full power and retracted the landing gear. The propeller subsequently struck the runway before the airplane started to climb. The pilot circled around the airport and the airplane impacted the ground about 0.5 nm north of the approach end of his landing runway. A postcrash fire ensued and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s flight control system did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Propeller strikes near the approach end of the runway indicate that the pilot retracted the landing gear before establishing a positive rate of climb during the aborted landing, which resulted in the propeller contacting the runway. As there was no evidence of a preimpact mechanical anomaly with the engine, it is likely that the airplane’s subsequent degraded performance during the aborted landing was the result of the propeller strike. ## Factual narrative On October 20, 2022, about 1258 mountain standard time, a Beechcraft V35B airplane, N50JM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Nogales, Arizona. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was returning from Tarkio, Missouri (K57) on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. At 1252, the pilot canceled VFR flight following, announced his intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency for Nogales International Airport (OLS), Nogales, Arizona, and entered the left downwind for runway 21. He lowered the landing gear and confirmed 3 green landing gear lights with his passenger after he turned to the base leg of the airport traffic pattern. At this time, the aural landing gear warning system confirmed the landing gear was down for landing. The pilot reported that during touchdown the airplane immediately “flopped down” and veered to the left. The pilot applied right brake and rudder to try regain the runway centerline, but he decided to perform an aborted landing. He applied full power and raised the landing gear. Striations on the runway, which were consistent with propeller strike marks, were observed about 150 ft beyond the 1,000-foot markers of runway 21. The pilot reported that the airplane was unable to gain airspeed and decided to land off the airport. After he circled around to the north via the east side of the airport, he was still unable to gain airspeed and executed a forced landing to an open field about 0.5 nm north of the approach end of runway 21. The airplane came to rest on its belly and was oriented on a northeast heading. A postcrash fire ensued and the airplane subsequently exploded. One witness reported that he watched the airplane make what was apparently a normal landing, but then he heard the engine rev up and saw the landing gear retracted. He stated that he saw the right side of the airplane on fire after the aborted landing. Another witness observed the airplane flying in a nose-high attitude at a very low altitude during the balked landing. He reported that the airplane was “on the edge of a stall, his gear was up, barely hanging on at about 10-30 feet above the ground.” He did not observe the airplane on fire until after the impact with terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the flight control system. The rudder control system cables were traced from the cockpit to the rudder through cable cuts made by recovery personnel. Although fire damaged, the right main landing gear linkages were continuous from the landing gear actuator to the landing gear. The left main landing gear linkages were continuous from the actuator to the left main landing gear through an overload separation at the drive tube near the left-wing root. The landing gear and brake systems were destroyedby fire and could not be examined due to lack of available evidence. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies. In addition, the pilot and witnesses who observed the aborted landing said the engine sounded like it was developing full power. Each propeller blade displayed deformation about 20 inches from its blade root. Bending, curling, and chordwise scratching was consistent with that of damage to a propeller with an engine developing full power. There were no tire marks associated with the accident airplane found on the runway; however, the runway had propeller strike markings consistent with that of an engine developing full power while traveling down, and in contact with, the runway. Figure 1. Flight path after go-around is initiated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50JM), registered now, S/N D-10141, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-10141 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2638.7 - Engines: Continental RAM IO-550-B-RA 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2022 - Departed: KDNA, Santa Teresa, NM - Destination: KOLS, Nogales, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OLS, Nogales Intl, runway 03/21, 7,200 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,420 total, 962 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KFHU, 28 nm away - METAR: METAR KFHU 201955Z AUTO 12008KT 10SM CLR 24/05 A3017 ## 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 20221020020029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221020020029A), Oct 20, 2022: Beech V35B, Nogales, AZ, Destroyed. On 10/20/2022, the scottsdale FSDO became aware that a bonanza crashed attempting a go-around at Nogales International (kols). The pic's go around attempt… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106173. 20.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15943138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA022_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Party form (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15943148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20WPR23LA022_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 3, MP4, 12.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15705348&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=BONANZA%20EXPLODES%20AT%20KOLS-Rel.mp4 - Witness statements (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15942177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage exam report (item 5, PDF, 8 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15943657&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Report%20WPR23LA022-Rel.pdf - Engine exam (item 6, PDF, 8 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15942806&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20exam%20WPR23LA022-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15942664&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20WPR23LA022%20Nogales,%20AZ%20N50JM_Redacted-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.