# NTSB CEN11LA320: Commander 114-B, N114JG, Sandusky, OH, May 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 2011, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Sandusky, OH - Coordinates: 41.433334, -82.652221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4333&lon=-82.6522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA320 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79040/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79040 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA320 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate directional control while landing in a variable crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Commander 114-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0145001), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the final approach with a left crosswind was uneventful. He stated that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, slightly right of the runway centerline. The subsequent landing roll was uneventful for approximately 40 to 60 yards, and then the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot's application of right rudder and full right brake were not successful in regaining directional control. The airplane departed the left side of the runway into an area of soft grass and then swerved back onto the runway before coming to rest. A postaccident examination of the main landing gear brake components and nose landing gear steering system did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented their normal operation. The pilot reported that there was a left crosswind of 6 knots during the landing attempt to the east. A nearby weather station reported that, during the hour following the accident, the wind velocity increased from 6 to 12 knots with 17 knot gusts. The same weather reports also indicated that the wind direction changed from a northerly to northwesterly direction during the same time period. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2011, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Commander Aircraft Company model 114-B airplane, N114JG, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway during landing at Griffing Sandusky Airport (KSKY), Sandusky, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The personal flight originated from Kelleys Island Airport (89D), Kellys Island, Ohio, at 1340. The pilot reported that the final approach to runway 9 (3,559 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) was uneventful and that the wing flaps were fully extended during the landing attempt. He noted that there was a left crosswind of about 6 knots that required a left aileron input to maintain the runway centerline. He stated that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, slightly right of the runway centerline. The subsequent landing roll was uneventful for approximately 40-60 yards before the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot's application of right rudder and full right brake were not successful in regaining directional control. The airplane departed the left side of the runway into an area of soft grass. The airplane subsequently swerved back onto the runway before coming to rest. A postaccident inspection revealed that the right main landing gear had collapsed, the nose wheel strut was displaced about 10-degrees right of vertical, the engine firewall was buckled at several locations, and there was damage to the fuselage lower skins and structural bulkheads. Further examination of the main landing gear brake components and nose landing gear steering system did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented their normal operation. The nearest aviation weather observation station with recorded historical weather information was at Lorain County Regional Airport (KLPR), about 25 miles east-southeast of the accident site, which was equipped with an automated surface observing system (ASOS). At 1353, the KLPR ASOS reported the following weather conditions: Wind 360 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 miles; broken ceilings at 5,500 and 8,000 feet above ground level (agl); temperature 9 degrees Celsius; dew point 3 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.29 inches of mercury. At 1453, the KLPR ASOS reported the following weather conditions: Wind 330 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 17 knots; visibility 10 miles; few clouds at 3,000 feet agl; temperature 10 degrees Celsius; dew point 3 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.28 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N114JG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N114JG), registered now, S/N 14634, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Commander Aircraft Company 114-B - Registry model: [Commander 114-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/commander-114-b) (registry code 0145001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14634 - Airframe hours: 917.3 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-T4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joe Edward Greene - Registered owner: Joe Edward Greene - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2010 - Departed: 89D, Kelley's Island, OH - Destination: KSKY, Sandusky, OH - Airport: KSKY, Griffing Sandusky Airport, runway 09, 3,559 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 715 total, 353 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KLPR, 22 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 20110504008339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110504008339A), May 4, 2011: Commander Aircraft Co 114-B, Sandusky, OH, Substantial damage. The pilot loss control upon landing due to crosswind. The airplane was landing west to east on the runway and went off the left side of the runway in to a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79040. 597 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 473 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation, James Larry (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation,%20James%20Larry-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 3, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.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.