What happened
On August 6, 2008, at approximately 0710 central daylight time, a Beech C2-3 bearing registration N24598 was involved in an accident at Augusta Municipal Airport (3AU) in Augusta, Kansas. The flight, which was being conducted as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91, originated from the same airport at approximately 0705.
During the flight, the instructor observed rain and lightning to the distant north and decided to practice touch-and-go and crosswind landings. While the takeoff and initial approach legs proceeded without incident, the aircraft encountered turbulence during the 1.5-mile final approach. At an altitude of approximately 30 to 40 feet, the aircraft experienced a sinking action. The instructor attempted to push the nose down to gain lift before pulling up to flare, but the aircraft continued to sink and struck the runway at a high rate of speed.
Following the initial impact, the aircraft bounced and subsequently skidded off the left side of the runway into the grass. The aircraft struck a ditch, causing the nose gear to collapse. There were no injuries to the flight instructor or the student pilot.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the left main landing gear had been torn off during the event. This component struck the left horizontal stabilizer, resulting in a dented leading edge and a bent stabilizer midspan.
Weather observations at the time of the accident indicated visual meteorological conditions with winds from 080 degrees at 19 knots. Prior to takeoff, the instructor had noted a wind of 050 degrees at 10 knots from a nearby airport's ASOS.