Macon County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Franklin, North Carolina 28734
Friday, October 11, 1991 17:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE IN THE FLARE, THE PROPELLER BLADES BEGAN TO CONTACT THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE HAD NOT EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR PRIOR TO THE APPROACH. HE EXECUTED A GO AROUND WHILE LOWERING THE GEAR. FLAPS REMAINED FULL DOWN. HE WAS UNABLE TO TAKE OFF STRAIGHT AHEAD DUE TO RISING TERRAIN, SO HE EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A NEARBY PLOWED FIELD. ON LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A CREEK BED AND COLLIDED WITH THE WEST BANK OF THE CREEK. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE GEAR WARNING CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS TRIPPED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RUNWAY REVEALED NUMEROUS PROPELLER SLASH MARKS. THE PROPELLER BLADE TIPS WERE SCORED AND CURLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR RESULTING IN A GEAR UP CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY, AND THE EVENTUAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/11/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FRANKLIN
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28734
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MACON COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1A5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 2020
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID AVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 2165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 44
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1447
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44315
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N37MC
NTSB Number ATL92LA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model F33A
Aircraft Series Identifier F33A
Aircraft Serial Number CE-1258
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 24 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 370
Airframe Hours 520
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HILL, ROBERT J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 654 SHORE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City N. PALM BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33408
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HILL, ROBERT J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 654 SHORE ROAD
Operator City N. PALM BEACH
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33408
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AVL
Departure City ASHEVILLE
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1645
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --