Beech B100 N686AC accident near Jesup, Georgia

Probable cause

A hard landing short of the runway threshold, which resulted in a collapse of the left main landing gear and subsequent runway excursion during landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he had completed an instrument approach to the runway and immediately after landing, the airplane began to turn left. When asked to characterize the landing, the pilot described that he believed it was not “ideal” but also was not hard, and that the airplane did not bounce after the touchdown. He also stated that he allowed the left main landing gear to touch down first, due to the prevailing crosswind. Following the landing, the pilot attempted to correct the left turn with right rudder and applied the reverse thrust, but the airplane continued to turn, departing the runway to the left and coming to rest in a marshy area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

A postaccident examination of the airplane and runway by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed tire marks that began on the runway about 44 feet short of the runway threshold, along with contact marks on the pavement consistent with a left propeller strike. Continuous skid marks consistent with the right main landing gear tire were observed beginning about 50 feet further down the runway, and continuing for more than 400 feet off the left side of the runway. Additional scrape marks on the ground were consistent with the left wing and left main landing gear dragging along the ground. All of the landing gear tires remained fully inflated. The left main landing gear was collapsed and the actuator clevis on the left main landing gear was separated. The left propeller blades also displayed aft bending and abrasion of their tips. Based on these observations, it is likely that the airplane touched down hard short of the runway threshold, which fractured the left main landing gear actuator clevis, resulting the left main landing gear collapsing and the subsequent loss of directional control and runway excursion.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA360 for the full record.