Beechcraft C23 N24630

Summary

On 5 July 1990 at about 16:12 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N24630, operated by Robert Merrill, was involved in an accident near Allaire, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 July 1990 at 16:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Allaire, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Allaire (BLM)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N24630

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert Merrill

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Farmingdale → Langhorn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC90LA149

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE FOR THE LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED AND THEN RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT DUE TO DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE SAW MEN AND EQUIPMENT NEAR HIS TOUCHDOWN SPOT AND MOMENTAIRLY STOPPED HIS DESCENT. HE SAID THE ELEVATOR FELT MUSHY AS HE CONTINUED THE DESCENT, AND WHEN HE TRIED TO FLARE, THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED 2-3 FEET TO THE RUNWAY. THE LOWER STRUT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED TO THE RIGHT, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, COLLAPSING THE REMAINING LANDING GEAR. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT 20-30 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, ROLLING LEFT AND RIGHT; HOWEVER, HE SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE TOUCHDOWN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.