N58TZ

On August 6, 2000, about 1130 Eastern Daylight Time, a Beech BE-58, N58TZ, was substantially damaged during a landing at Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1), West Milford, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and the commercial pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, between Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey, and West Milford. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The private pilot stated that she was in the left seat, and the commercial pilot was in the right seat, acting as a safety observer. The private pilot flew a full, practice VOR RWY 6 approach to the airport. Since the active runway was Runway 24 at the time, she broke off the approach close to the field, and flew a left, visual pattern. On final approach, the airplane was "on glideslope, lined up with the centerline, and my airspeed at blue line. On short final, the air became 'squirrely'," so she used rudder pedals to maintain centerline. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, the pilot reduced power to idle. "The landing appeared a little hard," and unknown to the pilot at the time, the airplane's left main tire had blown. The pilot attempted to keep the airplane on the runway, but it veered off the left side, and struck a Cessna 182RG which was tied down in a parking space.

According to a witness who was in his airplane at the hold short line at the time, the accident airplane made "s-turns" on the final approach Runway 24. "About 60 feet from the numbers, the aircraft pitched up, in what appeared to be an effort to flare the aircraft, estimated at 9 feet above the ground." The airplane then hit the ground on a 40- to 45-degree angle to the centerline, "so hard that it raised the dirt from the runway." The airplane bounced, and then landed with the left wheel on the grass and the right wheel on the runway. It veered to the left, and came to rest against a parked airplane.

The private pilot stated that she had about 404 hours of total flight time, with 28 hours in make and model. The commercial pilot-safety observer had about 556 hours of total flight time, with about 64 hours in make and model. The airplane was not equipped with right seat brakes.

Winds, recorded at an airport approximately 40 nautical miles to the south, about 15 minutes after the accident, were from 220 degrees true, at 8 knots.