N3621Q

On March 20, 1999, at 2000 eastern standard time, a Beech 23, N3621Q, ground looped during a full stop landing at the Jacksonville International Airport in Jacksonville, Florida. The instructional flight was operated by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Cumming, Georgia, at 1630.

According to the student pilot, the solo-cross country flight was planned with a refueling stop in Jacksonville. The student pilot reported that the departure runway surface at Cumming Airport was rough and uneven. Upon arriving in the Jacksonville area, the student pilot was cleared for an approach to and a landing on runway 07. The student pilot stated that during the first landing he heard a cracking or popping sound. The student pilot described the touchdown as normal. At this point he elected to go-around for another approach and landing. The pilot was cleared for another landing on runway 07, and as soon as the airplane touched down on the runway surface, it veered to the right. The airplane rotated 180 degrees in the center of the runway.

The post-accident examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose gear attach point had failed. The visual examination of the fracture surface revealed typical overload deformation. Prior to this occurrence, no mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. Reportedly, during the wreckage examination, a small amount of corrosion was also discovered on the nose gear attach point.