# NTSB ATL89LA010: Cessna 177, N29550, Greensboro, NC, October 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1988, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Greensboro, NC
- Coordinates: 36.119144, -79.889381 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1191&lon=-79.8894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7939
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7939/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA010

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD LANDED AT SOUTHEAST GREENSBORO EARLIER. HE DEPARTED ON RWY 35 AND REMAINED IN CLOSED TRAFFIC FOR LANDING. THE TD WAS MADE IN THE FIRST 100 FEET OF THE DOWNSLOPED RWY AT ABOUT 70 MPH. THE FLAPS WERE RETRACTED AND THE PLT REPTD THAT A GUST OF WIND AND THE DOWNSLOPED RWY CAUSED HIM TO BECOME AIRBORNE. CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT THE DRIFT WERE INEFFECTIVE. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A PINE TREE THAT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE US GOVT FLT INFO PUBLICATION FOR THE SOUTHEAST INDICATES THAT PRACTICE LANDINGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON RWY 35. THE NEAREST WX REPORTING FACILITY WAS LOCATED 15 NW OF THE ARPT. THEIR RECORDED WIND 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCD WAS OUT OF 220 DEGREES AT 2 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29550](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29550-1991-04-17), registration cancelled 1991-04-17, S/N 17700958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17700958
- Airframe hours: 1825
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William Bee King
- Registered owner: William Bee King
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 1988, 45 hours before
- Airport: 3A4, Southeast Greensboro, runway 35, 3,063 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 553 total, 323 in this make and model, 319 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19881008048379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881008048379A), Oct 8, 1988: Cessna 177, Greensboro, NC, Substantial damage. Ballooned on crosswind landing drifted off runway landed and hit a tree.

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.

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