Manassas Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manassas, Virginia 20108
Wednesday, December 29, 1999 12:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While landing on a 5,700 foot long, 100 foot wide, asphalt runway, the airplane began to 'porpoise strongly.' The pilot said he tried to stabilize the airplane's attitude and maintain directional control with the power at idle; however, the airplane's nose wheel collapsed and the propeller contacted the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot purchased the airplane about 1 month prior to the accident, and he reported 14 hours of total flight experience in make and model.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate remedial action to recover the airplane from porpoising during the landing roll out.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/29/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MANASSAS
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20108
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MANASSAS REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HEF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 192
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1317
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 29 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1412
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2116W
NTSB Number NYC00LA060
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model C-23
Aircraft Series Identifier C-23
Aircraft Serial Number M-1481
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 8 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 2541
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLOYD G. PATTERSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5209 GRINNELL STREET
Aircraft Owner City FAIRFAX
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22032
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 JYO
Departure City LEESBURG
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HEF
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34R
Runway Length 5700
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --