- 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.
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.