# NTSB ATL02LA036: Cessna 170B, N48031, Bellewood, MS, January 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 2002, 17:26 local (23:26 UTC) - Place: Bellewood, MS - Coordinates: 33.145278, -90.515274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1453&lon=-90.5153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Jackson FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54046/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54046 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA036 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged the proper touched down point and collided with the ground short of the runway during an attempted landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - proper touchdown point - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot established an approach to land on runway 12 at the private airstrip where he previously departed. During the attempted landing, the airplane touched down left and short of the runway surface. The airplane came to rest 30 feet left of the turf runway. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to reveal a mechanical problem with the airplane. The wreckage examination also revealed structural damage to the airframe. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 2002, at about 1726 central standard time, a Cessna 170B, N48031, registered to the pilot, collided with the ground during an attempted landing at a private sod airstrip near Bellewood, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight's exact departure time from the private airstrip in Belzoni, Mississippi, was not determined. The pilot established an approach to land on runway 12 at the private airstrip where he previously departed. During the attempted landing, the airplane touched down left and short of the runway surface. After colliding with the ground, the airplane moved along the ground, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest 30 feet left of the turf runway. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to reveal a mechanical problem with the airplane. Examination of the accident site confirmed a ground collision several feet short of the runway. The wreckage examination also revealed structural damage to the airframe. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48031](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48031-2017-06-21), registration cancelled 2017-06-21, S/N 27095, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27095 - Airframe hours: 10700 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2001 - Departed: Belzoni, MS - Airport: NONE, private, runway 12, 3,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 581 total, 310 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: GWO, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020108000059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020108000059A), Jan 8, 2002: Cessna 170B, Bellwood, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot undershot runway. (.4) on January 8, 2002, at about 1726 central standard time, a Cessna 170B, N48031, registered to the pilot, collided with the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54046. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - none received (item 1, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20none%20received-Master.PDF - Certified Mail receipt (item 2, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Certified%20Mail%20receipt-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.