# NTSB CEN10IA173: Univar 415-C/D, N93415, Xenia, OH, November 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 2009, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Xenia, OH - Coordinates: 39.690834, -83.991943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6908&lon=-83.9919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10IA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75573/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75573 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10IA173 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide slope during final approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger departed for a local flight that was to remain in the airport traffic pattern of the departure airport. The pilot stated that he climbed to pattern altitude and flew a normal downwind leg for runway 25. When he turned onto the final leg of the approach, the pilot was blinded by the sun and recognized that he was too low. He attempted a climb and felt the wing hit a tree about 100 feet from the runway approach end. He reentered the traffic pattern and landed on runway 25 without further incident. Damage to the airplane included a 2-3 inch dent in the left wing leading edge, with damage to the underlying ribs. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. ## Factual narrative The pilot and passenger departed for a local flight that was to remain in the airport traffic pattern of the departure airport. The pilot stated that he climbed to pattern altitude and flew a normal downwind leg for runway 25. The pilot stated that when he turned onto the final leg of the approach, he was blinded by the sun and recognized that he was too low. He attempted a climb and felt the wing hit something, which was a tree about 100 feet from the runway approach end. He reentered the traffic pattern and landed on runway 25 without further incident. Damage to the airplane included a 2-3 inch dent in the left wing leading edge with damage to the underlying ribs. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The damage was discovered by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector during an inspection of the repair facility where the airplane was undergoing repair. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93415](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93415), registered now, S/N 738, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Univar 415-C/D - Registry model: [Engineering & Research 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (registry code 0420302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 738 - Airframe hours: 1649 - Engines: Continental C-85-12-F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Passenger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 28, 2009 - Departed: I19, Xenia, MI - Destination: I19, Xenia, MI - Airport: I19, Greene County-Lewis A. Jackson, runway 25, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 128 total, 3 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: FFO, 8 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 20091106053899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091106053899A), Nov 6, 2009: Engineering 415-C, Xenia, OH, Substantial damage. On March 2, 2010 during routine surviellance of the maintenance facility at I19 it was discovered that on November 6, 2009, aircraft N93415 had struck a tree… ## Other investigations on N93415 (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN12CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA045), Oct 25, 2011: Engineering & Research 415-C (N93415), Lebanon, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75573. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Instrument Panel (item 3, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Instrument%20Panel-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Instrument Panel (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20Instrument%20Panel-Master.PDF - Reclassification Memo (item 5, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reclassification%20Memo-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.