Beech 58 accident near Connersville, Indiana, November 11, 2011
On November 11, 2011 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N6685S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Connersville, Indiana (Mettel Field Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2011 · about 6:40 pm local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- Connersville, Indiana · Mettel Field Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N6685S · registry record · serial TH-718
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
With the assistance of a safety pilot, the pilot was flying practice instrument approaches in simulated instrument meteorological conditions. During the second approach, the safety pilot reduced the right engine power to simulate single engine conditions. After raising the hood, the pilot entered the landing flare and reduced the left engine power to idle, at which time the airplane yawed to the left 30 degrees and touched down in the grass. The pilot attempted to straighten the airplane’s path, but was unable to do so before impacting trees. The leading edge of both wings sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,323 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 19,771 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 21, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,850 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,680 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 24, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO 520 C (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor IO 520 C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Castle Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: New Castle IN at 7:10 pm
- Destination: New Castle IN
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KGEZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on December 8, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Telephone Conversatin - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Safety Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | N6685S - Damage to the Right Wing - CEN12CA062 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6685S on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft 58 Baron 1,295 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 C 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 C 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mettel Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Indiana 1,367 since 1982 · 179 in the last ten years
- Indiana 5,700 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN12CA062.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.