# NTSB CEN13LA454: Cessna 140, N2745N, Jonesboro, AR, July 31, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2013, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Jonesboro, AR - Coordinates: 35.836944, -90.52639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8369&lon=-90.5264&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87646 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA454 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87646/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87646 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA454 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing and his delay in performing an aborted 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: [Cessna 140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane bounced on landing and encountered a wind gust after it ascended above the corn crop that bordered the runway. The pilot aborted the landing attempt when he realized that he was unable to regain control of the airplane with enough runway remaining to ensure a safe landing; however, the airplane collided with a fence and a field at the end of the airstrip. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, he stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had discontinued the landing attempt immediately after the bounced landing. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2013, at 1400 central daylight time, a Cessna model 140 airplane, N2745N, was substantially damaged while landing on a private airstrip near Jonesboro, Arkansas. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which departed the private airstrip about 1330. The pilot reported that after a brief local flight he returned to the private airstrip to land on runway 18 (1,825 feet by 21 feet, asphalt). The airplane bounced upon landing and encountered a wind gust when it ascended above the corn crop that bordered the runway. The pilot aborted the landing attempt after he was unable to regain control of the airplane with enough runway remaining to ensure a safe landing; however, the airplane collided with a chain-link fence and a soybean field located at the end of the airstrip. The fuselage and left wing were damaged during the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, he stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had discontinued the landing attempt immediately after the bounced landing. The nearest aviation weather reporting station was located at Jonesboro Municipal Airport (KJBR), Jonesboro, Arkansas, about 6 miles west of the accident site. At 1343, the KJBR automated surface observing system reported: wind from 280 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 2,500 feet above ground level (agl) and scattered clouds at 3,600 feet agl, temperature 32 degrees Celsius, dew point 24 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2745N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2745N-2014-03-12), registration cancelled 2014-03-12, S/N 13003, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 13003 - Airframe hours: 2338 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 27, 2012 - Departed: PVT, Jonesboro, AR - Destination: PVT, Jonesboro, AR - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 18, 1,825 × 21 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 3,778 total, 5 in this make and model, 3,642 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KJBR, 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 20130731013599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130731013599A), Jul 31, 2013: Cessna 140, Jonesboro, AR, Substantial damage. On July 31, 2013, at 1330 CDT (1830 zulu), a Cessna 140, N2745N, owned and operated by a certificated commercial pilot, was on a 20 to 30 minute pleasure… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87646. 993 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 834 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (Bobby Joe Smith, Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Bobby%20Joe%20Smith,%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 3, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information%0D%0A-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.