Overcorrection May Have Precipitated Accident

The NTSB has issed a preliminary report on what looks like a classic error-accident. Remember, folks: the laws of physics hold in all phases of flight; and they are particularly unforgiving close to the ground. "Get-home-itis" and "Don't-go-around-itis" are killers, as this preliminary report seems to remind us. Even getting a bit past the centerline can often be recovered, by extending the touchdown point on a long-enough runway. It isn't pretty, but it works. Weigh all the options; don't lock your brain into something you "must" do -- the only thing you must do, is maintain control of the aircraft!

The NTSB says, "...The owner was operating the airplane... The private pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed...

"A witness near the airport reported that the airplane flew parallel to the right side of runway 29. The airplane turned crosswind at the end of the runway and the landing gear came down. The airplane flew downwind and turned base. The witness said the engine sounds did not change and the airplane appeared stable throughout these maneuvers.

"The witness said that the airplane started the turn to final. The witness said that as the turn continued, the airplane appeared to be past the extended centerline of the runway. He said the airplane abruptly increased the left turn so that the bank angle approached 90 degrees and the nose moved quickly to a nearly vertical position. The airplane maintained this attitude until it collided with the ground. The airplane burst into flames."

**   Report created 3/19/2003   Record 1   **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 14437        Make/Model: B3NM      Description: 1952 BEECH 3NM
  Date: 03/11/2003     Time: 0006
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
  City: ANZA   State: CA   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT LOST POWER AND CRASHED IN A FIELD, THREE OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURIED; ACFT WAS DESTROYED, ANZA, CA
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   3
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   2     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: METAR KPSP 102353Z AUTO 20004KT 10SM CLR 30/M07 A2985
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Cruise      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: UNK                         Dep Date:    Dep. Time:
  Destination: UNK                      Flt Plan: NONE         Wx Briefing: N
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK
  FAA FSDO: RIVERSIDE, CA  (WP21)                 Entry date: 03/11/2003
[file photo: www.beech18.com]

FMI: www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20030315X00339&key=1