# NTSB ATL97LA112: Cessna 310K, N124SP, Bainbridge, GA, August 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1997, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Bainbridge, GA - Location: 30.9706° N, 84.6538° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from DECATUR COUNTY INDUSTRIAL AIR PARK (BGE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9706&lon=-84.6538&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3883/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA112 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly perform the soft landing procedure, leading to a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - soft field landing/procedure - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis After receiving a ferry permit with the stipulation that the landing gear remain extended, the pilot took off for a short flight. Enroute he encountered some turbulence, and was concerned about the condition of the landing gear. The pilot stated he decided to make a soft landing at the destination airport. As he was over the runway, he pulled back the power, and the airplane sunk to the ground at a high rate. After the hard landing, the right tire blew, and the right propeller struck the runway. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 1997, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310K, N124SP, landed hard at the Decatur County Industrial Airpark (BGE), Bainbridge, Georgia. The ferry flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot sustained no injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Tallahassee Regional Airport, Tallahassee, Florida, at 1400. The pilot reported that, on August 6, 1997, he obtained a ferry permit from the Orlando Flight Standards District Office, for a flight from Tallahassee to Bainbridge. The permit had a restriction to fly with the gear extended. The pilot stated he encountered light turbulence around the Bainbridge area. He stated that he was concerned about his landing gear and entered a downwind for runway 27 to set up for a slow approach for a soft landing. He encountered light turbulence on final, subsequently landing hard on the runway. The right tire blew and the right propeller impacted the ground. He taxied off of the runway and shut down the engines. He then observed the right propeller damage. The tire was replaced and the airplane was towed to the tie down area. According to the mechanic who inspected the airplane, the right wing, landing gear well, and right fuselage all had substantial damage. The left wing, left nacelle, and right propeller were also damaged. The FAA inspector stated that the pilot was attempting to make a soft touchdown on the runway. When the airplane was over the runway, the pilot reduced the power all the way, and the airplane "fell like a rock". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N124SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N124SP-2015-05-18), registration cancelled 2015-05-18, S/N 310K0144, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310K - Registry model: [Cessna 310K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310k) (registry code 2074228) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310K0144 - Airframe hours: 3781 - Engines: Continental IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Pierce M Godwin - Registered owner: Consolidated Air Services, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1993, 73 hours before - Departed: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL - Destination: BGE, GA - Airport: BGE, Decatur Co. Ind. Airpark, runway 27, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 773 total, 323 in this make and model, 773 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 20 nm away ## 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 19970806021429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970806021429A), Aug 6, 1997: Cessna 310K, Bainbridge, GA, Substantial damage. During slow approach. Flared too high in turbulence and stalled. Blew tire bent prop and structure. (.19) on August 6, 1997, about 1415 eastern daylight time,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.