On February 15, 1988, a Beech C-23 (registration N6634R) operated by Piedmont Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Roanoke, VA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a solo touch-and-go landing, a student pilot's aircraft porpoised uncontrollably, landed on the nose gear causing it to collapse, and slid off the runway. An engine fire erupted but was extinguished. The pilot exited safely.
Accident Details
The accident occurred during a student pilot's fifth training session, which consisted of touch-and-go landings. The student had completed ten landings without incident; six of those were with the instructor aboard, followed by four solo landings.
Sequence of Events
During the flare of the eleventh landing, the aircraft began to porpoise uncontrollably. The aircraft subsequently landed on the nose gear, which collapsed. The aircraft then slid off the runway. An engine fire erupted during this sequence.
Aftermath
The pilot safely exited the aircraft. The fire was extinguished shortly after by airport fire department personnel. The carburetor was fractured during the impact sequence.