Event CEN11LA178

Factual narrative

On February 7, 2011, at 1030 central standard time, a Beech model A36 airplane, N6XZ, was substantially damaged while landing at Vermilion Regional Airport (KDNV), near Danville, Illinois. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Kahler Automation Corporation, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight plan. The flight departed Fairmont Municipal Airport (KFRM), Fairmont, Minnesota, at approximately 0800 for the cross-country flight. The pilot reported that during the downwind leg for runway 34 he did not notice any ice or snow contamination on the runway. He stated that his landing approach and touchdown on the runway centerline were uneventful. Approximately 500 feet into the landing rollout, he applied right brake pressure and the airplane immediately entered a right swerve. He stated that he was unable to regain directional control with the full application of left rudder and brake inputs. The airplane continued in the right swerve, departing off the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion damaging the left wing closeout rib and aft spar. A postaccident examination of the airplane's right wheel and disk-brake components did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation. The pilot reported that while he was in the downwind leg of the traffic pattern he checked for runway contamination and the runway was clear and dry. He stated that his landing approach and touchdown on the runway centerline were uneventful. Approximately 500 feet into the landing roll, he applied right brake pressure, and the airplane immediately entered a right swerve. He stated that he was unable to regain directional control with the full application of left rudder and brake inputs. The airplane continued in the right swerve, departing off the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion, damaging the left wing closeout rib and aft spar. The pilot's statement that airplane continued to track the runway centerline for 500 feet after touchdown, before his first application of brake pressure, suggests that the disk-brake components and rotor were clear of any contamination such as ice and/or snow during the landing roll. Further, if there had been any contamination, the rotational energy at touchdown would have broken loose any ice or snow. A postaccident examination of the airplane's right wheel and disk-brake components did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C