Beechcraft F33A N1553A
13 November 1992 · Phoenix, Arizona, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 13 November 1992 at about 16:20 local time, a Beechcraft F33A registered N1553A, operated by Airline Training Center, was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT)
- Coordinates
- 33.6797, -112.0905
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft F33A
- Registration
- N1553A
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Airline Training Center
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Goodyear → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX93LA036
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE DUAL STUDENTS PREMATURE RETRACTION OF THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE TAKEOFF PORTION OF A TOUCH AND GO, AND, THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DEACTIVATION OF THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY SYSTEMS BY THE COMPANY MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN EQUIPMENT DEFICIENCIES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE INSTRUCTOR AND HIS DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO'S. AFTER TOUCH DOWN, THE STUDENT APPLIED POWER AND THEN PREMATURELY MOVED THE LANDING GEAR SELECTOR SWITCH TO THE RETRACT POSITION. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID INTO SEVERAL AIRPORT TAXIWAY AND RUNWAY SIGNS. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT SOME TIME AGO THE OPERATOR HAD REMOVED THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY DEVICES FROM EACH AIRCRAFT IN THE FLEET, AND THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUCTORS WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SUBSEQUENT TO JUNE OF 1989 THE OPERATOR'S MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT HAD REMOVED THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY DEVICES (SELECTOR LEVER COVER GUARD AND THROTTLE SWITCH) FROM THEIR FLEET. FAA INSPECTORS DISCOVERED THE UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS IN JUNE OF 1992 AND HAD ORDERED THE DEVICES REINSTALLED. THE OPERATOR HAD REINSTALLED THE DEVICES DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERIODS ON ALL OF THE FLEET EXCEPT FOR THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft F33A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 1992 | Beechcraft F33A | Payson, Arizona, United States | Steering Committee Corp. | Fatal | 2 |
| 3 Oct 1992 | Beechcraft F33A | Steamboat Sprgs, Colorado, United States | Denver Air Center | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1992 | Beechcraft F33A | Langdon, North Dakota, United States | Larson Implement | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1993 | Beechcraft F33A | Baker, California, United States | American Aeronautical Foundati | Fatal | 3 |
| 27 Oct 1993 | Beechcraft F33A | Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1991 | Beechcraft F33A | Chamblee, Georgia, United States | United Cleaning Specialist | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1992 | Helio HST-550A | Salome, Arizona, United States | Maytag, David D. JR. | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Nov 1992 | Cessna 404 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | U. S. Customs Service | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1992 | Boeing 757-222 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | United Airlines | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1992 | Cessna 170B | Prescott, Arizona, United States | Darrah, LEE | No injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 1992 | Cessna 150M | Three Points, Arizona, United States | Genzman, Dennis W. | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Oct 1992 | Cessna 152 | Quartzsite, Arizona, United States | Arizona Wing & Rotor, Inc. | No injuries | - |