# NTSB CEN10CA344: Air Creation GTE, N5609N, Neenah, WI, June 25, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 25, 2010, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place: Neenah, WI
- Coordinates: 44.166389, -88.565834 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1664&lon=-88.5658&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76436
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA344
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76436/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76436
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA344

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Creation GTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0590031), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Creation GTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0590031), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Creation GTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0590031), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Creation GTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0590031), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot had not flown for six months prior to the accident flight so he decided to remain in the airport traffic pattern where he performed six approaches. He continued to perform approaches until he was confident that he could remain on the runway centerline in preparation for his first landing attempt. During a landing on runway 18, the airplane airspeed decreased "more quickly" than the pilot expected, which resulted in a hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage, including deformation to the fuselage.

## Factual narrative

The pilot had not flown for six months prior to the accident flight so he decided to remain in the airport traffic pattern where he performed six approaches. He continued to perform approaches until he was "confident" that he could remain on the runway centerline in preparation for his first landing attempt. During a landing on runway 18 (2,450 feet by 20 feet, asphalt), the airplane airspeed decreased "more quickly" than expected, which resulted in a hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage which included deformation to the fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5609N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5609N-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N T99400, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR CREATION GTE
- Registry model: [Air Creation GTE](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-creation-gte) (registry code 0590031) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T99400
- Airframe hours: 344
- Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 2009
- Departed: 79C, Neenah, WI
- Destination: 79C, Neenah, WI
- Airport: 79C, Brennand Airport, runway 18, 2,450 × 20 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; flight hours: 104 total, 33 in this make and model, 49 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: ATW, 6 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 20100625036529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100625036529A), Jun 25, 2010: Air Creatio GTE, Brennand, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot stalled aircraft on approach to landing and crashed on runway. Pilot was a student pilot but did not have an endorsement to fly this aircraft.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76436. 542 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 542 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334252&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.

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