Beech F33A N65HP accident near Big Bear, California

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot, who was a certified flight instructor (CFI), submitted a written statement. She had departed from a local airport and received flight following to her destination. After obtaining the wind information, which she recalled reporting winds from 240 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 17 knots, she entered a left downwind for runway 26. The pilot landed on the runway and the airplane swerved to the right, departing the runway surface and impacting a parked airplane, a vehicle, and an airport hangar. The Safety Board investigator interviewed a CFI that departed from the same airport and was landing at the same destination as the accident flight. He also obtained flight following and overheard the communication between air traffic control and the accident pilot, and then landed behind her. He indicated that the winds were reported from 220 degrees at 5 knots. During the landing, the airplane went past the final approach leg and then entered a 270-degree turn to enter back into the traffic pattern. When the airplane entered onto the final leg he looked down and saw a cloud of dust. Approximately 5 minutes after the accident, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) for the airport was reporting, in part, winds from 240 degrees at 8 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA018 for the full record.