WPR17LA154

Factual narrative

On July 13, 2017, about 2015 mountain standard time, a Beech D55 twin-engine airplane, N1796A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hailey, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, just before he entered the landing flare, he realized that his engines were "not synced up" and the airplane began to drift to the right of the runway. The pilot then realized that the airplane was getting too slow, and he increased the power to the left engine and pitched the airplane's nose down. The airplane yawed to the right and the right wingtip impacted the ground. The airplane hit the ground sideways, and the landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage. The airplane slid off the runway and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.   The pilot reported that the multi-engine airplane's engines were "not synched up" during the landing flare and the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The airplane's airspeed began to decay, and the pilot applied left throttle and pitched the airplane's nose down to correct. The airplane subsequently yawed to the right, the right-wing tip impacted the ground, and the airplane landed sideways, collapsing the landing gear and resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have initiated a go-around upon first noticing the unequal engine power. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine controls-Power lever-Incorrect use/operation
• — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot
• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot