ATL03LA044

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Hendersonville, NC · February 11, 2003

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 11, 2003, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC)
Place
Hendersonville, NC
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N80355Cessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 28, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Charlotte FSDO
FAA report
20030211008529A
Case key
56477

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and clearence from power lines during a go-around, resulting in an in-flight collision with a powerline.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Object - wire,transmissionCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

According to the pilot, on final approach to runway 14 the airplane encountered crosswinds gusting up to 16 knots. During the landing flare the winds shifted to a quartering tailwind. The pilot elected to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the right main gear collided with a power line. The airplane nosed over, and impacted an airport hangar. The airplane descended and impacted the ground. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilot prior to impact.

Factual narrative

On February 11, 2003, at 1420 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N80355 registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with an airport hanger while attempting a go-around at Hendersonville Airport, Hendersonville, North Carolina. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the Hendersonville Airport on February 11, 2003 at 1320.

According to the pilot, on final to runway 14 the airplane encountered varying crosswinds gusting up to 16 knots. During landing flare the winds shifted to a quartering tailwind. The crosswinds caused the airplane to drift to the left toward a row of "T" hangars. The pilot applied 40 degrees of flaps 50 feet from the runway. The airplane floated down the runway with a slight loss in attitude. The pilot elected to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the right main gear collided with a power line adjacent to the "T" hangars. The airplane nosed over, and collided with an airport hanger. The airplane fell and collided with the ground approximately 40 feet east of the "T" hangers.

The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville, North Carolina. It is located 9 nautical miles northwest of the Hendersonville Airport. The 1420 surface weather observation was: clear, visibility 10 miles, temperature 50 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 50 degrees Fahrenheit, wind 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 16 knots, and altimeter 29.95 inches of mercury.

Examination of the wreckage site revealed the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed, both wings were bent back aft towards the fuselage. The engine mounts were buckled and the firewall displayed crush damage. The fuselage of the airplane revealed crush damage. The horizontal and vertical stabilizer displayed crush damage. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilot.

Aircraft

Registration
N80355
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17266545
Airframe hours
2,752
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Ken J Caldwell
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 4, 2002 · 23 hours before
Departed
0A7 · Hendersonville, NC
Airport
0A7 · Hendersonville, runway 14, 3,075 × 40 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
72
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
May 15, 2002
Seat
Left
Flight hours
892 total · 610 in this make and model · 799 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
230° at 13 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
50 °F, dew point 50 °F
Altimeter
29.95 inHg
Observed at
KAVL, 9 nm away

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2006, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 392 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.