1972-06-10: Beechcraft D18 (N7526) — Sierra West Air — Nashville, United States of America

1 fatalityNashville, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

A twin-engine airplane caught fire and was destroyed after veering off the runway following a hard landing.

What happened

During the landing phase of the flight, the twin engine airplane experienced a heavy touchdown that resulted in a bounce. Following this impact, the aircraft became uncontrollable and drifted away from the runway surface. The plane eventually came to a stop while engulfed in flames. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. The wreckage was completely destroyed by the fire that broke out after the excursion.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to the actions of the crew. The pilot-in-command, who was also serving as the copilot, performed a spontaneous and incorrect maneuver during the landing sequence. Key factors included:

  • A lack of sufficient flight supervision
  • Deficiencies in coordination between the crew members
  • An improper level-off procedure
  • The application of full power while attempting to recover from the bounced landing

While the pilot later indicated that the use of power was intended for a go-around attempt, the sequence of events led to the loss of control.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the pilot-in-command performing an improper and spontaneous action during the landing phase, leading to a loss of control.