Beechcraft 58P N4458S

Summary

On 3 February 2002 at about 02:23 local time, a Beechcraft 58P registered N4458S was involved in an accident near Santa Ana, California, 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

3 February 2002 at 02:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Ana, California, United States

Nearest airport

John Wayne Airport-Orange Coun (SNA)

Coordinates

33.6817, -117.8692

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58P

Registration

N4458S

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Luis Obisbo → Santa Ana

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

LAX02LA221

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to remain above the landing Boeing 757's glide path resulting in an encounter with wing tip vortices, a loss of directional control after touchdown, and collision with taxiway signs.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane landed hard on the runway and hit two taxiway signs following a wake turbulence encounter on final approach. A Boeing 757 landed about 5 minutes prior to the accident airplane. While on downwind the pilot made a 360-degree turn for wing tip vortex avoidance. Just before touchdown, the airplane hit a "bump" and became "uncontrollable." The airplane landed hard to the right side of the runway and struck two taxiway signs. The pilot aborted the landing, and took off again. When he saw that his aircraft was still positioned over the runway, he decided to land instead of continue the takeoff. Upon touchdown a second time, the airplane veered to the left side of the runway. According to a written statement submitted by Federal Aviation Administration ATC personnel, the pilot followed the glide path of the Boeing 757. The airplane flew into the wing tip vortices approximately 50 to 75 feet from landing at a point behind where the 757 had touched down. The pilot failed to land beyond the Boeing 757's touchdown point, as suggested in the Aeronautical Information Manual.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.