Beech S35 N13W accident near Tuscola, Illinois

Probable cause

The pilot failure to maintain proper speed and distance during approach to land which resulted in landing long and subsequent runway excursion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot’s first attempt to land resulted in a go-around because he was too high and fast. During the second landing attempt, the airplane bounced and the pilot did another go-around. Witnesses reported that during the third landing attempt, the airplane touched down about mid-field with too much airspeed. The pilot applied the brakes, but the airplane went off the end of the runway. The pilot made a sharp left turn to avoid hitting a ditch head-on. The right main landing gear and nose gear collapsed, and the right wing came to rest on the road. The pilot reported that he took his hand off the throttle during the flare so that he could have both hands on the yoke. He reported that when he removed his hand from the throttle, it advanced about 200 rpm. An inspection of the airplane revealed that the throttle linkage was hitting the stops. The throttle control was examined and no discrepancies were noted.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09LA446 for the full record.