Primary finding
Probable cause
the private pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear and the nose gear.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot had inadvertently left the towbar attached to the nosewheel. During the initial climb after takeoff, he was informed that something was attached to his nosewheel. He continued to his destination airport. During arrival, the airplane touched down hard on the left main landing gear, the nose pitched down, and subsequently, the left main landing gear and nosewheel failed. The airplane then veered to the left, departed the runway, and the left wing was damaged.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 15, 1997, about 1012 eastern daylight time, a Beech B19, N59BW, registered to a Dair Enterprize Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on landing at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Daytona Beach, Florida, about 17 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane before he departed on the VFR flight to conduct touch-and-go landings at New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He inadvertently left the nosewheel tow bar attached to the airplane. On climbout, Daytona Beach tower informed him that something was attached to the nosewheel. He elected to continue to New Smyrna Beach. He made a VFR approach to runway 29 and was concentrating on keeping the nose high due to the tow bar. He landed hard on the left main landing gear and the nose pitched down on the nosewheel. The left main landing gear and the nose wheel separated, the airplane veered to the left, departed the runway, and the left wing collided with the ground. -