Beech D55 accident near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, September 27, 2014
On September 27, 2014 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1968 Beech D55, registered N222JJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hazleton, Pennsylvania (Hazelton Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The brake application for unknown reasons resulting in rupture of the left main landing gear tire and tube, and subsequent loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2014 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hazleton, Pennsylvania · Hazelton Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D55, built 1968 · all D55s on the register
- Registration
- N222JJ · registry record · serial TE-639
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an uneventful 30 minute flight the pilot returned to the airport and entered the traffic pattern for a full stop landing on runway 28; the wind at the time was variable at 3 knots. He reported the touchdown was normal, but about 5 to 10 seconds after touchdown, "the plane started rumbling and pulling hard to the left"; he confirmed he was not on the airplane's brakes at that time. He reported the nose steering was not effective, and when the left main landing gear wheel was in the grass, he advanced the left throttle in an attempt to overcome the left turning tendency. The airplane then contacted a temporary rock road and both main landing gears collapsed. All occupants exited the airplane uninjured, and when he deemed it safe, he reentered the airplane and secured the fuel selectors. Postaccident inspection of the airplane by several FAA inspectors revealed the left tire was deflated and a hole was completely worn through the casing on an area of the tread, and also through the tube. Postaccident operational testing of the airplane's brake system revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The brakes released with release of pressure on the brake pedals; no sticking was noted. Damage to a portion of the left wing at the leading edge and main spar was noted. Damage was also noted the main spar of the left aileron, and to structure on the lower fuselage aft of the wing trailing edge.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Abrupt maneuver during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not specified
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tube › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 612 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 435 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,463 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2014; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-520-CB (piston); 521 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 147 hours total
- Operator: Jld Conyngham LTD
The flight
- Departed from: HZL Hazelton PA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: HZL Hazelton PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,898 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from AVP, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA14CA463.