- Date
- June 30, 2004, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- LaGrange, GA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N718JPPilatus PC-12-45
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 24, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Atlanta FSDO
- Case key
- 59667
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare.
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 FAA check-airman, a simulated engine failure was given to the pilot by retarding the throttle. When the pilot stated that they could not reach the airport, the FAA check-airman returned the engine RPM to the green power range. The pilot continued the approach, and during the landing flare to touchdown on runway 31, the left wing tip collided with the runway. No flight control or mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot. Examination of the right wing tip revealed scraping on the wing tip skin.
Factual narrative
On June 30, 2004, at 1615 eastern daylight time, a Pilatus PC-12-45, N718JP, registered to Pezold Air Charters LLC and operated by Total Flight Systems Inc. wing tip collided with runway 31 during a landing at LaGrange-Callaway Airport, LaGrange, Georgia. The Part 135 flight-check was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial rated pilot-in-command (PIC) , the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) check-Airman, and the two passengers were not injured. The flight departed Newnan-Coweta County Airport in Newnan, Georgia, on June 30, 2004 at 1600.
According to the FAA check-airman, a simulated engine failure was given to the PIC by retarding the throttle. When the PIC stated that they could not reach the airport, the FAA check-airman returned the engine RPM to the green power range. The PIC continued the approach, and during the landing flare to touchdown on runway 31, the left wheel touched down firmly on the runway followed by the right wheel. As the airplane went through a series of lateral gyrations, the left wing tip collided with the runway. No flight control or mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot. Examination of the right wing tip revealed scraping on the wing tip skin.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N718JP
- Reported as
- Pilatus PC-12-45
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 155
- Airframe hours
- 1,800
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6, 1,200 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Total Flight Systems INC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 12, 2003 · 1,400 hours before
- Departed
- CCO · Newnan-Coweta, GA
- Destination
- LGC · La Grange, GA
- Airport
- LGC · Callaway, runway 31, 5,600 × 150 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
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- December 12, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 800 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- LGC