On May 5, 2006, a Beech BE23 (registration N8750M) was involved in an aviation accident near Kingman, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the student pilot's failure to attain/maintain a proper glide path, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot on a solo flight practicing touch-and-go landings experienced wake turbulence, resulting in a hard landing, collapsed nose wheel, and post-crash fire.
Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting a solo flight to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. While the accident airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern, a twin-engine airplane touched down on the runway. The accident airplane then turned onto final approach.
Wake Turbulence Encounter
Approximately 5 to 6 feet above the runway surface, the accident airplane encountered wake turbulence. The left wing immediately lifted about 45 degrees. The pilot recovered the airplane to a wings-level attitude just before it slammed down onto the runway.
Impact and Aftermath
The hard impact caused the nose wheel to collapse. A fire erupted as the airplane slid down the runway, and the airplane was consumed by fire. The student pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.