Beechcraft A23-24 N666CM

Summary

On 2 May 1992 at about 21:46 local time, a Beechcraft A23-24 registered N666CM, operated by NIX, William J., was involved in an accident near Corona, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 May 1992 at 21:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Corona, California, United States

Nearest airport

Corona Municipal (L66)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft A23-24

Registration

N666CM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

NIX, William J.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Riverside → Corona

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92FA196

2 people died.

1) THE FLYING PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT EMPENNAGE FLIGHT CONTROLS, 2) THE FLYING PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE A GO AROUND WITH THE OBVIOUS SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT, AND 3) THE FLYING PILOT'S INABILITY TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT IN PITCH DUE TO THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED IN THE HARD LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A STUDENT PILOT WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT OF HIS NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT AND A PRIVATE PILOT OCCUPIED THE RIGHT SEAT. THE INVESTIGATION WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHO WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOTS INITIATED A GO AROUND AFTER A HARD LANDING WHICH SHEARED OFF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, BROKE THE NOSE GEAR STRUT, AND DAMAGED THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE CLIMB RATE AND THE AIRSPEED APPEARED TO BE VERY LOW, AND THAT THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER APPEARED TO BE BENT DOWN. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, DURING THE CROSS WIND AND DOWN WIND LEGS, THE AIRPLANE WAS MAKING ABRUPT PITCH CHANGES AND NEVER ATTAINED ALTITUDES OF MORE THAN 300 TO 500 FEET AGL. WHILE ON A CLOSE IN DOWN WIND LEG, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET HIGHER THAN THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD JUST TRADED ANOTHER AIRPLANE FOR THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WHICH HAD JUST HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WAS SIGNED OFF AS UNAIRWORTHY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.