NTSB Factual Report

On June 1, 2003, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 58, N18142, a twin-engine airplane, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Big Bear City Airport (L35), Big Bear City, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The personal cross-country flight departed Catalina Airport (AVX), Avalon, California, en route to L35 at 1415. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

According to the pilot, the approach was normal. As he touched down, it felt like the nose gear was in a rut. He immediately pulled back on the yoke and the airplane became airborne. As it touched down a second time, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded down the runway to a stop. He examined the runway and found a rut that ran the length of the runway.

A witness told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the airplane appeared to oscillate on final approach, made a hard landing, and porpoised down the runway. The Big Bear City Airport Director, also a witness to the accident, stated that the airplane was approaching "too hot" and began to touch down. It touched down three separate times due to its high approach speed. On the third touchdown, the airplane's landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop.

During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the Big Bear City Airport Manager stated that there were several significant cracks on the runway, which develop each winter. Some of the cracks had just recently been filled in. The Airport Manager took pictures of the runway after the accident.

Photographs received by the IIC displayed a noticeable crack running the length of the runway, left of the centerline. Significant markings were located approximately midpoint down the runway. Two parallel black skid marks with irregular zigzag patterns, exhibiting heavy tread markings, were also visible left of the centerline. These skid marks were about 6 feet apart and parallel to the runway centerline. The left skid mark was located about 6 inches left of the crack. The right skid mark was located about 5 feet to the right of the crack. There were two sets of six thin scrape marks dimensionally similar to propeller slashes in the runway surface located adjacent to each of the two black skid marks. There was approximately 12 inches in between each of the scrape marks, which were perpendicular to the runway centerline. One set of scrape marks was on the left side of the left skid mark. The second set of scrape marks was on the right side of the right skid mark. A third mark, located midpoint in between the two black skid marks, consisted of a skid mark, which was nearly covered by white paint transfer. This mark ran parallel to the runway centerline. All three skid marks fade as they continue down the length of the runway. The accident aircraft was painted white.

During a telephone interview with the IIC, the mechanic who examined the airplane stated that there was no evidence of a mechanical gear failure. Flight control and flap continuity were also checked with no anomalies noted. During the inspection he noticed that the flaps were in the up position, consistent with the flap selector position. The flaps were not damaged. The mechanic noted that the flaps normally are damaged if they are in the down position and the gear collapses. The pilot told the mechanic that he was not sure if he had put the flaps down during the approach.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's excessive approach speed and misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the landing gear. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to use flaps.