The pilot reported that just prior to landing in Kalispell, Mont., he noted there was ice on the Beech 58’s wings. He activated the de-ice boots and proceeded to land.
During the landing flare, about 12 feet above the ground, the plane buffeted and the nose lowered.
The pilot added full power to initiate a go-around when the plane stalled and the left wing hit the ground. The pilot reduced power.
The airplane touched down onto the runway and skidded off the left side before it came to a rest.
The crash resulted in one serious and two minor injuries.
During the accident sequence the left wing sustained substantial damage.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing sequence.
NTSB Identification: WPR14CA067
This December 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
“Believed was PIC.”
If there’s any question, don’t go. You don’t “believe” who is PIC, it should be clearly known. And it’s a “checkout flight” and the PF does no weather, no preflight, basically nothing but get in? Doesn’t know if the guy can fly from the right seat? “Oh yeah, and we’re going to pick up passengers”. Come on, at some point the PF has to smell something. I don’t hold this guy as blameless as you do.
This GAN article doesn’t tell the full story, nor does the NTSB Factual report or Probable Cause statement.
The Pilot/Operator Report found in the NTSB Docket was completed by the pilot flying (PF). Unfortunately for him, he signed it as “pilot”, rather than as “individual other than pilot/operator”, despite listing the owner/check pilot as “PIC” in the report. The PIC did not submit a report, nor did he sign the document. No other documents, other than the Pilot/Operator Report are included in the NTSB Docket. The NTSB accident report and Probable cause quotes from portions of the Pilot/Operator Report. No other information is presented in either the NTSB Factual Report or Probable cause than was found in the Pilot/Operator Report found in the Docket.
According to the PF who occupied the left seat at behest of the owner of the aircraft and the individual the PF believed was PIC, the flight was supposed to be a checkout flight for the pilot flying (PF). The pilot occupying the right seat (PIC) owned the aircraft and, according to the Pilot/Operator Report, led the PF to believe he would be PIC, and that as such he had obtained a standard briefing, and complied with FARs regarding pre-flight planning duties. Note that the Pilot/Operator Report indicates the PIC was not a CFI. Not mentioned in the Pilot/Operator report completed by the PF was whether, prior to or during the flight, the PF knew that the PIC was not a CFI, nor did it mention whether the PIC could fly the accident aircraft from the right seat. The PIC conducted the pre-flight check of the aircraft. The PF said he trusted that the PIC all essential tasks associated with the flight (pre-planning, pre-flight, determination of intermediate stops, weather briefings, etc.). The PF was informed by the PIC on the morning of the flight, immediately prior to departure, that the flight would be from KSZT to KCOE where three passengers would be picked up. The PF said he was sole manipulator of controls during the accident flight, but it is unclear from the Pilot/Operator Report (which listed the PIC by name as the owner of the aircraft) what role the PIC had in radio communications, monitoring aircraft status, etc.
Though the flight was shown as under Part 91, it is also unclear from the sole document in the NTSB Docket why the three passengers had to be picked up, and why they traveled to KGFI.