# NTSB CEN11CA291: Cessna A185F, N2530S, Hot Springs, AR, April 28, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 28, 2011, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Hot Springs, AR
- Coordinates: 34.478054, -93.096107 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4781&lon=-93.0961&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78896
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA291
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78896/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78896
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA291

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

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

- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot approached the runway for a full stop landing with the wing flaps fully extended. On touchdown the airplane bounced twice and the left wingtip impacted the runway. The pilot was able to regain control of the airplane and taxied to parking. The airplane’s left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage during the impact. Seven minutes before the accident, the automated weather observing system (AWOS) at the airport reported variable wind at 6 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot approached the runway for a full stop landing with the wing flaps fully extended. On touchdown the airplane bounced twice and the left wingtip impacted the runway. The pilot was able to regain control of the airplane and taxied to parking. The airplane’s left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage during the impact. Seven minutes before the accident, the automated weather observing system (AWOS) at the airport reported winds variable at 6 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2530S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18502245
- Airframe hours: 1061
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ten South Skywagon LLC
- Registered owner: Ten South Skywagon LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 14, 2011
- Departed: Hot, Hot Springs, AR
- Destination: Hot, Hot Springs, AR
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: Hot, Memorial Field, runway 23, 6,595 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 16, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 166 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: HOT

## 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 20110428007619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110428007619A), Apr 28, 2011: Cessna A185F, Hot Springs, AR, Substantial damage. On April 28, 2011, approximately 1700 local, N2530S, a Cessna 185F landed at Hot Springs Memorial Airport (khot) on runway 23 with winds at 300 degrees and 7…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78896. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349254&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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