Beech 58 accident near Monroe, North Carolina, March 4, 2015
On March 4, 2015 at about 2:38 pm local time, a 1979 Beech 58, registered N50NH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Monroe, North Carolina (Charlotte-Monroe County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath and failure to perform a go-around once a safe landing could not accomplished, which resulted in a landing area overshoot and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 2015 · about 2:38 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, North Carolina · Charlotte-Monroe County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58, built 1979 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N50NH · no longer on the register · serial TH-1030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had initially intended to perform a GPS approach to runway 23, into the wind; however, the weather was below minimums for that approach and he then elected to perform an instrument landing system (ILS) approach in the opposite direction to runway 5. While about 100 feet above decision height for the ILS approach to runway 5, the pilot did not have the runway environment in sight and started to make the motions to go-around, but did not increase engine power. He then observed the runway centerline markings and due to excess speed and a tailwind, the airplane floated and landed long. When asked about the touchdown point location and speed at touchdown, the pilot estimated it was about 1,000 feet before the departure end of the 7,001-foot-long runway, at a speed of 85 knots. He applied the brakes, but the runway was wet and he did not feel deceleration. He left the flaps fully extended as the airplane traveled off the end of the runway, coming to rest upright in a grass area. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The recorded weather at the airport, about the time of the accident, included an 11-knot tailwind. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the landing gear and lower fuselage.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,500 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 66.8 in the last 90 days; 33.4 in the last 30 days; 14,500 as pilot in command; 5,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 9, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,432.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2014; 154 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-520-CB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor IO-520-CB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Brick Street Mutual Insurance Company
The flight
- Departed from: CRW Charleston WV at 1:10 pm
- Destination: EQY Monroe NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 05, 7,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 200 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from EQY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.