Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL93LA002

CHATTANOOGA, TN, USA

Aircraft #1

N10BS

BEECH E-55

Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ON SHORT FINAL FOR A VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 15. HE OBSERVED AN APPROACHING OBJECT THAT APPEARED TO BE A RADIO-CONTROLLED MODEL AIRPLANE. HE PULLED UP AND BANKED TO THE LEFT; HOWEVER, THE OBJECT COLLIDED WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RIGHT WING. THE AILERONS WERE MOMENTARILY JAMMED, BUT FORCE ON THE CONTROL YOKE FREED THEM. HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON RUNWAY 20. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A HOLE IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RIGHT WING, A DESTROYED RIB, AND A NICKED AILERON CABLE. THERE WAS ALSO A BULGE IN THE UPPER WING SKIN. A SMALL SLIVER OF WOOD WAS FOUND INSIDE THE DAMAGED WING SECTION. A SEARCH FOR THE MODEL AIRPLANE AND ITS OPERATORS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE FAILURE OF AN UNKNOWN PERSON TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES BY OPERATING A RADIO-CONTROLLED MODEL PLANE IN AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN AIRSPACE.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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