# NTSB WPR24LA277: Beech N35, N354AL, Sequim, WA, August 10, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2024, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Sequim, WA
- Coordinates: 48.092593, -122.9285
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0926&lon=-122.9285&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194925
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA277
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194925/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194925
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA277

## Probable cause

An encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech N35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Beech N35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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 N35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that, during final approach to the runway, the airplane was too low. The airplane then encountered a downdraft and landed hard at the approach end of the runway. As a result, the nose and right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N354AL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N354AL), registered now, S/N D-6570, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH N35
- Registry model: [Beech N35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-n35) (registry code 1151528) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-6570
- Year built: 1960
- Airframe hours: 3739.5
- Engines: Continental IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Last inspection: Annual, September 28, 2023
- Departed: KPWT, Bremerton, WA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 2WA1, Diamond Point Airstrip, runway 29, 2,335 × 24 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review June 28, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,036.9 total, 300.5 in this make and model, 988.3 as pilot in command, 9.8 in the last 90 days, 7.9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: K0S9, 5 nm away
- METAR: METAR K0S9 102115Z AUTO 22007KT 10SM CLR 21/15 A3000 RMK AO2=

## 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 20240810020789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240810020789A), Aug 10, 2024: Beech N35, Sequim, WA, Substantial damage. Witness claimed pilot executed steep approach to get under a cloud layer and landed hard damaging the gear. Assigned to FSDO inspector after stale complaint…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194925. 5.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17595100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17595200&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Amended flight hours from pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18346838&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=flt%20hrs%20matrix%20NTSB20240830_12172262-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.

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