# NTSB CEN14CA242: Cessna 170A, N9285A, Huron, SD, April 19, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 19, 2014, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Huron, SD
- Coordinates: 44.315834, -98.27333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3158&lon=-98.2733&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89216
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89216/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89216
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA242

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate flare resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 170A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot indicated that the airplane landed hard and the right main landing gear collapsed. Images of the airplane revealed substantial fuselage deformation damage above the landing gear. The pilot indicated that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions in reference to the flight.

## Factual narrative

The pilot indicated that the airplane landed hard and the right main landing gear collapsed. Images of the airplane revealed substantial fuselage deformation damage above the landing gear. The pilot indicated that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions in reference to the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9285A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9285A-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N 19373, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19373
- Year built: 1950
- Airframe hours: 5678.3
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 2012
- Departed: HON, HURON, SD
- Destination: SD55, Huron, SD
- Airport: SD55, Winter Airfield, runway 12, 2,700 × 30 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2012; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,992 total, 4,093 in this make and model, 5,598 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KHON, 5 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 20140419010619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140419010619A), Apr 19, 2014: Cessna 170A, Huron, SD, Substantial damage. On April 19, 2014 1200 a Cessna 170A owned by gary a. jones, the right main landing gear struck an object during landing and bent the landing gear and damaging…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89216. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412815&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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