Brighton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brighton, Michigan 48114
Sunday, August 9, 2009 12:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the landing, the airplane impacted terrain approximately 400 feet short of threshold for runway 22. The pilot reported, "I got too slow on approach and fell into a slower wind pocket which [decreased] my lift." The pilot attempted to add engine power, however, the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot estimated the wind was from 260 degrees at 20 to 40 knots and gusting. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Examination of the airplane revealed the main landing gear struts punctured the top of both wings. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and compensate for wind conditions during final approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/9/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Brighton
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48114
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 423411N
Event Location Longitude 0834642W
Event Location Airport Brighton Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 45G
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 40
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25936
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2009 12:49PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N336TC
NTSB Number CEN09CA513
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A36TC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number EA-211
Certified Max Gross Weight 4100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 30 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2900
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name WHARTON HOWARD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 892 E CHICAGO ST
Aircraft Owner City COLDWATER
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49036-2063
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WHARTON HOWARD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 892 E CHICAGO ST
Operator City COLDWATER
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49036-2063
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 OZW
Departure City Howell
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1150
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 45G
Destination City Brighton
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 24 2009 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record saua
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --