Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot maintaining excessive airspeed during the landing, resulting in a touchdown on the runway with insufficient distance to stop, and a subsequent intentional ground loop and collision with the terrain. Also causal was the pilot's failure to abort the landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that during a landing: 'aircraft flared...and rose due to ground effect.' the airplane floated down the runway, and the touchdown occurred FAR down the runway. The airplane exited the end of the runway, and the pilot applied right brake to avoid impacting a fence. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane impacted the rough terrain. The FAA inspector stated in his report: '...the aircraft touched down at high speed on the last 268 feet of usable runway. After continuing off the runway at high speed, the pilot placed the aircraft into a hard right turn.'
Source record
Factual narrative
On Thursday, September 1, 1994, at 1435 eastern daylight time, a Beech F33A, N445B, registered to the Blue Sky Aviation Association, and piloted by George R. Niccolai, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Block Island State Airport, Block Island, Rhode Island. The pilot and two of the passengers were not injured. One passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In his report, the pilot stated: Speed was slowly reduced to 80 MPH on final. ....Aircraft flared at the "numbers" and rose due to ground effect...eased back as the aircraft began downward descent. Back pressure applied again and the same occurrence repeated. Aircraft skidded off the runway onto grass overrun. Right rudder and brake was applied making aircraft turn to right and slide to stop. The FAA Operations Inspector stated in his report: While approaching runway 28...the aircraft touched down at high speed on the last 268 feet of usable runway. After continuing off the runway at speed, the pilot placed the aircraft into a hard right turn effectively "ground looping" to a stop. The reported wind at the airport was 290 degrees at 9 knots. -