# NTSB CEN15CA213: Bellanca 8KCAB, N580, Mesquite, TX, November 23, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 23, 2014, 15:42 local (21:42 UTC)
- Place: Mesquite, TX
- Coordinates: 32.743888, -96.531112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7439&lon=-96.5311&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 June 1, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91117
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91117/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91117
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA213

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which exceeded the airplane's maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity.

## 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: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: maximum crosswind component](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the landing on runway 17 a gust of wind pushed the tailwheel equipped airplane to the left. The pilot attempted to correct back to the runway centerline; the airplane exited the right side of the runway and spun 180 degrees. The left wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and stated that he lost control during landing. Around the time of the landing, the automated weather station reported the wind from 260 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 24 knots. A review of the airplane's flight manual revealed the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity was 17 knots.

## Factual narrative

During the landing on runway 17 a gust of wind pushed the tailwheel equipped airplane to the left. The pilot attempted to correct back to the runway centerline; the airplane exited the right side of the runway and spun 180 degrees. The left wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and stated that he lost control during landing. Around the time of the landing, the automated weather station reported the wind from 260 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 24 knots. A review of the airplane's flight manual revealed the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity was 17 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N580](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N580), registered now, S/N 43-72, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB
- Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 43-72
- Year built: 1972
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lewis David S
- Registered owner: Lewis David S
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HQZ, MESQUITE, TX
- Destination: HQZ, MESQUITE, TX
- Airport: HQZ, Mesquite Metro, runway 17, 5,999 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2014; seat: front; flight hours: 396 total, 62 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.43 inHg
- Observed at: KHQZ

## 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 20141123024359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141123024359A), Nov 23, 2014: Bellanca 8KCAB, Mesquite, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot had landed at Mesquite airport (hqz) around 15:42 CST on runway 17 and during his landing roll the airplane turned right off of the runway into the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91117. 3.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Record of Conversation – Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- POH Excerpt - Maximum Demonstrated Crosswind Velocity (item 3, .PDF, 236 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=POH%20Excerpt%20-%20Maximum%20Demonstrated%20Crosswind%20Velocity-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 912 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Wing%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Wing Spar Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Wing%20Spar%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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