N3548RBEECH A232011-05-21 NTSB Accident Report

Substantial
Minor

BEECH A23S/N: M-715

Summary

On May 21, 2011, a Beech A23 (N3548R) was involved in an accident near Greene, NY. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's decision to continue a visual approach with low visibility and in heavy rain and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees.

The pilot stated that while attempting to land in heavy rain and low visibility, the airplane collided with trees to the right side of the runway before descending and impacting the runway. The collision damaged the left wing, collapsed the landing gear, and substantially damaged the engine firewall. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane's first impact with the ground was 68 feet from the tree impact. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.

This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA11CA309. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3548R.

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, May 21, 2011
NTSB Number
ERA11CA309
Location
Greene, NY
Event ID
20110524X22220
Coordinates
42.304164, -75.786941
Nearest Airport
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's decision to continue a visual approach with low visibility and in heavy rain and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BEECH
Serial Number
M-715
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1965
Model / ICAO
A23BE23
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
GREGORY ARTHUR A
Address
56 HOSPITAL RD
Status
Deregistered
City
BINGHAMTON
State / Zip Code
NY 13901
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot stated that while attempting to land in heavy rain and low visibility, the airplane collided with trees to the right side of the runway before descending and impacting the runway. The collision damaged the left wing, collapsed the landing gear, and substantially damaged the engine firewall. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane's first impact with the ground was 68 feet from the tree impact. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA11CA309