# NTSB CEN13LA243: Cessna 195B, N4420C, Albuquerque, NM, April 28, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2013, 09:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.145278, -106.79528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1453&lon=-106.7953&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86752/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86752 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA243 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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: [Cessna 195B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073112), [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 195B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073112), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 195B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073112), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 195B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2073112), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 195B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073112), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the purpose of the accident flight, which consisted of several practice takeoffs and landings, was to become better acquainted with the flying characteristics of the tailwheel-equipped airplane that he had recently purchased. The accident occurred during a full-stop landing on the hard-surface runway. The pilot reported that he made an uneventful approach and a three-point touchdown on the runway centerline; however, during the landing roll, the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain directional control and that the airplane departed the left side of the runway and nosed over. Postaccident examinations of the airplane, including a functional test of the tailwheel assembly, established that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. In the absence of a mechanical cause for the sudden veer experienced during landing roll, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane after touchdown which resulted in the ground-loop and runway excursion. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2013, at 0950 mountain daylight time, a Cessna model 195B airplane, N4420C, was substantially damaged while landing at Double Eagle II Airport (KAEG), Albuquerque, New Mexico. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed KAEG about 0900. The pilot reported that the purpose of the accident flight, which consisted of several practice takeoff-and-landings, was to become better acquainted with the flying characteristics of the tailwheel-equipped airplane that he had recently purchased. The pilot reported having about 3 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane make/model. The accident occurred during a full-stop landing on runway 22 (7,398 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). The pilot reported that he made an uneventful approach and three-point touchdown on the runway centerline; however, about 500-600 feet into the landing roll the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain directional control and that the airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway before nosing over. The aircraft fuselage and wings were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintenance inspector examined the airplane multiple times following the accident and confirmed flight control continuity. Additionally, no anomalies or mechanical discontinuities were identified with the tailwheel locking assembly during a functional test. The FAA inspector did not identify any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. At 0950, the KAEG automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 030 degrees true at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 17 degrees Celsius, dew point -14 degrees Celsius, altimeter setting 30.16 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4420C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4420C), registered now, S/N 16005, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 195B - Registry model: [Cessna 195B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-195b) (registry code 2073112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R755B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755b-series) (registry code 35007, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16005 - Airframe hours: 3650 - Engines: Jacobs R-755B2 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald S. Harmon - Registered owner: Ronald S. Harmon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2013 - Departed: KAEG, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: KAEG, Albuquerque, NM - Airport: KAEG, Double Eagle II Airport, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 4,670 total, 3 in this make and model, 4,670 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KAEG ## 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 20130428006089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130428006089A), Apr 28, 2013: Cessna 195B, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On April 28, 2013, at approximately 0930 MDT, N4420C, a CE-195 during landing rollout lost control, ground looping and departed the left side of runway 22 at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86752. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 855 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Tamara Bell) (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Tamara%20Bell)-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Vernon Rockett) (item 3, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Vernon%20Rockett)-Redacted.PDF - Weather Information (item 4, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.