# NTSB CEN17LA004: Volaircraft 10A, N6666D, Mandan, ND, October 2, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2016, 15:57 local (20:57 UTC) - Place: Mandan, ND - Coordinates: 46.880554, -100.994445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8806&lon=-100.9944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 94137 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94137/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94137 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA004 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain the proper approach path on landing, which resulted in impact with terrain short of the runway. ## 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: [Volaircraft 10A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9550104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Volaircraft 10A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=9550104), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Volaircraft 10A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9550104), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that, while on final approach for landing, the airplane encountered turbulence on final approach that "pushed the plane down." The airplane landed short of the runway, the student egressed, and the airplane subsequently caught fire and was destroyed. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems before the accident; there were no witnesses. Visual examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel/gascolator line had ruptured during impact, resulting in the postimpact fire. The local weather at the time of the accident included wind from 130° at 3 knots, and the smoke was observed billowing straight up from the fire; indicating calm to light wind at the time of the accident. It is likely that the student pilot failed to maintain a proper approach path during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane impacting terrain short of the runway. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2016, about 1557 central daylight time, a Volaircraft 10A airplane, N6666D, registered to the student pilot, was destroyed by post impact fire after it landed short of runway 13 at the Mandan Municipal Airport (Y19), Mandan, North Dakota. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight had originated from Y19. According to local respondent authorities, the airplane landed short of the runway and skidded to a stop beside the paved runway surface. After the student pilot exited uninjured, the airplane caught fire and was destroyed. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems prior to the event and there were no witnesses. On NTSB Form 6120, the student pilot stated that he encountered turbulence on final approach and pushed the airplane downward. He stated that a fuel line ruptured upon impact and sparks ignited, resulting in a post-impact fire. There were three distinct ground impressions in a grassy area just prior to the paved runway threshold. The impressions correlated with the fixed landing gear of the aircraft.Visual inspection of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that the fuel/gascolator line had ruptured during the impact. The reported local weather at the time of the accident was: Wind 130 at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, temperature 22 C, dew point 13 C, altimeter 29.92. Soon after the accident when the aircraft was still on fire, a photo was taken of the accident scene by first responders. The photo shows billowing smoke going straight up from the fire. the photo is included in the public docket for this case file. According to the FAA and the pilot's submitted NTSB Form 6120, the student pilot reported a total of 20 hours of total flight time, all of which were flown in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6666D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6666D-2018-04-19), registration cancelled 2018-04-19, S/N 10A-026, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VOLAIRCRAFT 10A (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Volaircraft 10A](https://openairdocs.org/model/volaircraft-10a) (registry code 9550104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10A-026 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 2100 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2016 - Departed: Y19, Mandan, ND - Destination: Y19, Mandan, ND - Airport: Y19, Mandan Municipal Airport, runway 13, 4,399 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: Y19 ## 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 20161002019799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161002019799A), Oct 2, 2016: Volaircraft 10A, Mandan, ND, Destroyed. Pilot touched down short of runway 13. Impact caused nose gear strut to depart aircraft. Aircraft slid 492 feet down the runway. Gasculator/fuel drain was… ## Other investigations on N6666D (2) 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. - [NTSB FTW72FPD04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72FPD04), Jul 25, 1971: Volaircraft 10A (N6666D), Cleburne, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK68D0207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68D0207), Oct 25, 1967: Aero-Comdr 100 (N6666D), Davis, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94137. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 936 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Information for Y19 (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information%20for%20Y19-Master.PDF - Airport Information - Mandan Municipal Airport Y19 (item 3, .PDF, 308 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Information%20-%20Mandan%20Municipal%20Airport%20Y19-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 689 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.