Beechcraft 36 N3237Q

Summary

On 8 December 1998 at about 18:30 local time, a Beechcraft 36 registered N3237Q was involved in an accident near Mathews, Virginia, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 December 1998 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mathews, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

37.4301, -76.3190

Aircraft

Beechcraft 36

Registration

N3237Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Norfolk → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99LA035

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to land with less than full-down flaps. Contributing factors were the wet landing surface and the tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Upon reaching his destination, the pilot overflew the runway, checked the winds, and entered a left base for landing to the east. The pilot positioned the airplane on a 2 mile final, configured the airplane with approach flaps, and slowed to 75 mph. The airplane touched down approximately 300 feet past the approach end of the 2,200 foot wet grass runway and started to roll out. Halfway down the runway, the pilot applied the brakes and the airplane started to slide. With approximately 600 feet remaining, the pilot felt the airplane was not going to stop, so he maneuvered the airplane to the right side of the runway to attempt a left 180 degree turn. On the right side of the runway, the right main landing gear encountered 'tall' grass, causing the airplane to veer to the right and depart the runway. The right wing then struck a 3 to 4 inch diameter tree, and the airplane came to a stop. The airplane's Pilot's Operator Handbook (POH) stated in the before landing checklist, 'Flaps-FULL DOWN.' The POH only has landing performance data for flaps full down on a dry level runway. According to the POH, a 3,200 pound airplane would require a landing distance of 1,500 feet, based on no wind, sea level, a 50-foot obstacle, and an air temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.