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N3545R accident description

Michigan map... Michigan list
Crash location 41.940000°N, 83.434722°W
Nearest city Monroe, MI
41.916434°N, 83.397710°W
2.5 miles away
Tail number N3545R
Accident date 04 Jul 2002
Aircraft type Beech A-23-23
Additional details: None

NTSB Factual Report

On July 4, 2002, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Beech A-23-23, N3545R, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing on runway 03 (5,000 feet by 100 feet, asphalt), at the Custer Airport, Monroe, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight originated at an undetermined time.

The pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings when, on the fourth landing, "... [the pilot] must have flared [too] soon causing the airplane to bounce at touchdown." The airplane then went off the right side of the runway where, "the nosewheel dug into the terrain causing it to collapse and the airplane to go nose down."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot misjudging the flare, and his loss of directional control during landing. The soft terrain was a factor.

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