NTSB Factual Report

On February 6, 2002, at 0815 central standard time, N93LV, a Beech 200 twin-engine airplane, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Camden/Harrell Field, in Camden, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Lockheed Martin Vought Systems of Grand Prairie, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot, copilot, and the six passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 executive/corporate flight. The cross-country flight originated from Arlington, Texas, at 0710, and was destined for Camden.

The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, that while executing the GPS 18 approach to runway 18 at the Camden/Harrell Field Airport, the aircraft descended out of the clouds at 900 feet msl. During the landing flare, at approximately 15 to 20 feet above the runway, he felt a shudder, the aircraft dropped and touched down "hard" separating the left main landing gear. Subsequently, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane skidded off the left side of the runway.

Examination of the accident site by the airport manager revealed that the airplane touched down 800 feet from the approach end of the 6,501 foot asphalt runway.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that both the left and right wing spars were damaged, the nose landing gear was damaged, and the left main landing gear was sheared off. Further examination of the airplane revealed that approach flaps setting was selected for the approach and landing.

The FAA inspector reported that the pilot admitted to making a "mistake" by letting the airplane get too slow with approach flaps.

NTSB Probable Cause

The inadvertent stall as the result of the pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed. A contributing factor was the pilot's use of the approach flaps setting for the landing.