- Date
- September 17, 2003, 18:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place
- Peachtree City, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N796WBellanca CH-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Atlanta FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030917036159A
- Case key
- 58624
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 pilots failure to maintain directional control during landing roll that resulted in a ground loop and subsequent collapse of the main landing gear.
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
The purpose of the flight was undetermined, however, according to the pilot, they were on a normal approach for a 3-point landing on Runway 13. After the airplane touched down half way down the runway, the pilot began to make minor corrections with the rudder to maintain directional control during the landing roll. The pilot further reported that the airplane veered off the left side, two-thirds down the runway, ground looped, followed by the collapse of the left main landing gear. The pilot did not report a mechanical malfunction with the airplane. The examination of the airplane also failed to disclose a mechanical problem. The pilot stated that this accident could have been prevented with "better rudder control by the operator."
Factual narrative
On September 17, 2003 at 1820 eastern daylight time, a Bellance CH-300 (Replica), NR796W, registered to and operated by Spirit of Wenatchee, Inc. left main landing gear collapsed during an attempted landing on runway 13 at Falcon Field Peachtree City, Georgia. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and passenger had minor injuries. The flight departed Falcon Field, Peachtree City, Georgia, at 1730, on September 17, 2003.
The purpose of the personal flight was undetermined, however, according to the pilot, they were on a normal approach for a 3-point landing on Runway 13. After the airplane touched down half way down the runway, the pilot began to make minor corrections with the rudder to maintain directional control during the landing roll. The pilot further reported that the airplane veered off the left side of the runway about 3400 feet from the approach end. The airplane then ground looped, followed by the collapse of the left main landing gear.
The pilot did not report the airplane having any mechanical malfunctions or failures. The examination of the airplane after the accident also failed to disclose a mechanical problem. The pilot stated that this accident could have been prevented with "better rudder control by the operator."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N796W
- Reported as
- Bellanca CH-300
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 3004
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R 985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Spirit of Wenatchee.Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- FFC · Peachtree City, GA
- Destination
- FFC · Peachtree City, GA
- Airport
- FFC · Falcon Field, runway 13, 5,220 × 100 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.
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC)
- Wind
- 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- ATL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.