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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 20, 1994 · Beech M35 · N9931R

Winston-Salem, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 20, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
Aircraft
Beech M35
Tail Number
N9931R
Operator
Lopez Michael E
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL94LA173

THE STUDENT PILOT (117 HOURS TOTAL FLYING TIME) WAS LANDING THE AIRPLANE DURING NIGHT, VMC. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CAUTIONED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW AND SLOW ON SHORT FINAL. THE STUDENT RAISED THE NOSE, BUT DID NOT ADD POWER. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, AND LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY EDGE. AS THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE RUNWAY EDGE, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE LEFT WING MAIN SPAR BUCKLED. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE FIRST OCCASION THAT THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR HAD FLOWN TOGETHER. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE STUDENT'S ABILITIES, AND WAITED TOO LATE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND A PROPER GLIDEPATH ON FINAL APPROACH, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND UNDERSHOOT. FACTORS WERE THE NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT PILOT.

Full Narrative

On September 19, 1994, at 2200 eastern daylight time, a Beech M35, N9931R, landed short and collided with the runway edge at the Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The student pilot and his flight instructor were not injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by the student pilot. The aircraft was substantially damaged. Night, visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the business flight. The flight originated in Wilmington, North Carolina at 2100. The student pilot, Mr. Michael Lopez, reported that he had requested, through an airport staff employee, that his airplane be flown from Winston-Salem to Wilmington by a flight instructor. Mr. Lopez would then fly the airplane from Wilmington to Winston- Salem, with the instructor in the right seat. While approaching the Smith Reynolds Airport, Mr. Lopez allowed the aircraft to get low and slow on short final. The flight instructor, Mr. Richard Hartsog, cautioned him that they were too low, and Mr. Lopez raised the nose of the aircraft without adding power. The aircraft stalled on short final, resulting in a touchdown short of the runway threshold. Mr. Lopez also reported that he had not been acquainted with Mr. Hartsog prior to the day of the accident. Mr. Hartsog corroborated Mr. Lopez' account of the accident. He stated that he was unfamiliar with Mr. Lopez' flying abilities, and that he waited too late to take corrective action. An examination of the touchdown area revealed that the aircraft landing gear impacted the concrete edge of the runway end shortly after touchdown. The nose gear collapsed, and the left wing main spar buckled.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:00 EDT
Nearest AirportSmith Reynolds (1nm SSE)
Runway33
Runway Length6655 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech M35
Tail NumberN9931R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLopez Michael E
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470-C · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:39
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data