N18961

On July 26, 1998, at 1310 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech C23, N18961, landed hard and collapsed the landing gear at the Avalon, California, airport. The aircraft was destroyed, and the commercial pilot/owner and three passengers, the sole occupants, were not injured. The personal flight originated at the Temecula, California, airport, about 1100, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that on final approach for runway 22, he set 15 degrees of flaps and maintained 70-75 knots of airspeed. He stated that his intention was to stay slightly high on the glide path and land about 200 feet beyond the runway numbers. The pilot reported that as he was approaching the numbers, the nose of the aircraft seemed to suddenly stop and begin to drop. He stated that before he was able to apply power, the aircraft hit the runway and the left main landing gear and nose wheel collapsed. The aircraft veered off to the left side of the runway.

The pilot reported that the winds were from 270 degrees at 12-15 knots. He further reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.