On October 3, 1999, a Beech C-23 (registration N9213S) operated by Duane K. Harrington was involved in an aviation accident near Greenwood, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: undetermined. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft experienced a sudden nose-down pitch on final approach, resulting in a hard landing, gear failure, and fire as it skidded off the runway.
What happened
The aircraft encountered a sudden change in attitude while approaching the airport. Pilots seated in both the left and right positions reported hearing a distinct "pop" noise accompanied by an abrupt nose-down pitch of the aircraft during the final approach phase. This unexpected maneuver led to a hard impact with the runway surface. The force of the landing caused the landing gear to shear off, and the aircraft subsequently caught fire while skidding off the right side of the runway.
The investigation
Following the incident, Federal Aviation Administration inspectors conducted a thorough examination of the aircraft to determine if mechanical issues contributed to the accident. Their inspection did not disclose evidence of any pre-impact mechanical problem with the aircraft systems or structure.