# NTSB CEN18CA058: Piaggio P.180, N141JT, Georgetown, TX, December 18, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 18, 2017, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, TX - Coordinates: 30.678333, -97.400001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6783&lon=-97.4000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 10, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 96522 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18CA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96522/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96522 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18CA058 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and the right main landing gear collapsing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said he was flying the RNAV GPS runway 36 approach in 3 miles visibility and that the wind was from 070° at 9 knots. He sighted the runway at 50 ft above the missed approach point. He said the airplane was slightly right of the runway centerline and that there was a right crosswind. When the right main landing gear (MLG) contacted the runway, it collapsed. The airplane then exited the right side of the runway onto the grass median about 1,000 ft from the end of the runway, and the airplane then came to a stop and the right main landing gear (MLG) to collapse. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane had landed hard, which resulted in the right MLG collapsing. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have resulted in the landing gear collapse. ## Factual narrative The pilot said he was flying the RNAV (GPS) runway 36 approach in 3 miles visibility. He said the wind was from 070° at 9 knots. At 50 feet above the missed approach point (MAP), the runway was sighted. He said he was slightly right of runway centerline and there was a right crosswind as well. When the right main landing gear contacted the runway, it folded under the body and the airplane came to a stop. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the accident site, the pilot made a hard landing that caused the right main landing gear to collapse. The airplane exited the right side of the runway onto the grass about 1,000 feet from the end of the runway. Further examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have resulted in the landing gear collapse. Visibility and wind as reported by the airport's AWOS-3 (Automated Weather Observing System), was 0.25 miles and 100° at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N141JT (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piaggio P.180 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1141 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-660 850 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitnet PT6A-660 850 hp turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 22, 2017 - Departed: KADS, Dallas, TX - Destination: KGTU, Georgetown, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KGTU, Georgetown Municipal, runway 36, 5,004 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 19,811 total, 812 in this make and model, 19,631 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,100 total, 25 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 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 20171218023269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171218023269A), Dec 18, 2017: Piaggio P180, Georgetown, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft was enroute from addison airport (kads) addison, Texas to Georgetown airport (kgtu) Georgetown, Texas. Pilot and co-pilot were on final approach to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96522. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - E-Mails from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472348&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mails%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - RNAV (GPS) RWY 36, Georgetown, TX (item 3, .PDF, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472349&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=RNAV%20(GPS)%20RWY%2036,%20Georgetown,%20TX-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472350&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.