# NTSB CEN14LA388: Cessna 177B, N5511B, Georgetown, TX, July 20, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2014, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, TX - Coordinates: 30.680833, -97.67778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6808&lon=-97.6778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89731 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA388 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89731/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89731 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA388 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced 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 177B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 177B, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073708), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a personal flight and attempting to land the airplane. A witness reported seeing the airplane bounce during the landing. During the second touchdown, the airplane's nose was aligned left of the runway centerline. The pilot then lost directional control of the airplane, which subsequently exited the left side of the runway, flipped, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical fin, rudder, empennage, fuselage, and wing. The right door was jammed from the impact damage, and the pilot and passenger exited the inverted airplane through the left door. An examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preaccident mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2014, about 1540 central daylight time, a Cessna 177B single engine airplane, N5511B, was substantially damaged during landing at Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU), Georgetown, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane had departed from Lancaster Regional Airport (LNC), Lancaster, Texas, about 1430 for the flight to GTU. The air traffic controller witnessed the accident and reported that the airplane bounced during the landing and on the second touchdown the nose of the airplane was aligned well to the left of the runway centerline. Directional control was then lost and the airplane exited the left side of the runway surface, flipped, and came to rest inverted. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the vertical fin, rudder, empennage, fuselage, and wing. The right door was jammed from the impact damage and the pilot and passenger exited the inverted airplane through the left door. There was no postimpact fire. An examination found no preaccident mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. At 1540 the automated weather observing system at GTU reported wind from 170 degrees at 9 knots, visibility of 10 miles, few clouds at 3,200 feet, temperature 33 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 24 degrees C, with an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5511B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5511B-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 17702048, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17702048 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 3243 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2014, 32 hours before - Departed: LNC, LANCASTER, TX - Destination: GTU, Georgetown, TX - Airport: GTU, Georgetown Muni, runway 18, 5,004 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 63 total, 6 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 25; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KGTU ## 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 20140720011799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140720011799A), Jul 20, 2014: Cessna 177B, Georgetown, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot was attempting to land at Georgetown Municipal Airport. As per the tower the aircraft bounced twice and then came down hard on the nose gear at which… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89731. 467 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437328&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Summary of Findings (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings-Master.PDF - Map - Airport Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437330&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20-%20Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 4, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-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.