# NTSB CEN09CA615: Cessna 175, N6686E, Rio Blanco, CO, September 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2009, 09:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Rio Blanco, CO - Coordinates: 39.725555, -108.138885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7256&lon=-108.1389&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Salt Lake City FSDO, FAA Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA615 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74938/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74938 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA615 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing and his failure to execute a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was landing at a 2,100-foot-long dirt and turf remote mountain airstrip in dry conditions with clear skies and calm wind. During the flare and initial touchdown, the pilot allowed the airplane to drift to the left edge of the runway and the nose gear of the airplane struck a runway edge marker. According to the pilot, that impact "forcefully bounced the aircraft back in the air while dragging the tail." The airplane then "landed hard but controllably" on the left edge of the runway and the pilot steered the airplane back onto the runway. There was substantial damage to the forward fuselage and nose gear, but no injuries to the pilot. ## Factual narrative The airplane was landing at a 2,100 foot long dirt and turf remote mountain airstrip in dry conditions with clear skies and calm wind. During the flare and initial touchdown the pilot allowed the airplane to drift to the left edge of the runway and the nose gear of the airplane struck a runway edge marker. According to the pilot that impact “forcefully bounced the aircraft back in the air while dragging the tail”. The airplane then “landed hard but controllably” on the left edge of the runway and the pilot steered the airplane back onto the runway. There was substantial damage to the forward fuselage and nose gear, but no injuries to the solo pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6686E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6686E-2010-03-17), registration cancelled 2010-03-17, S/N 56186, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56186 - Airframe hours: 3756 - Engines: Continental O-470 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Shelton Drilling Corp - Registered owner: Shelton Drilling Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2009, 10 hours before - Departed: KGWS, GlenwoodSprings, CO - Destination: NONE, Rio Blanco, CO - Airport: NONE, Bishop's Cabin Airstrip, runway 19, 2,100 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,938 total, 490 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 20090901020039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090901020039A), Sep 1, 2009: Cessna 175, Rio Blanco, CO, Substantial damage. N6686E was damaged while landing on at bishops cabin (latitude 39:43.53, longitude 108:08.34), a grass strip approximately 2000 feet long by 50 feet wide. The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74938. 441 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.