- Date
- May 16, 2018, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Harlan, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N77273Cessna 120
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20180516005409A
- Case key
- 97299
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s late go-around during a bounced landing, which led to an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot flew a visual approach to a 1,712-ft-long by 120-ft-wide turf runway. During touchdown, the airplane bounced and the pilot "felt out of control." The pilot executed a late go-around, during which the airplane struck a fence at the end of the airport property. Then, due to approaching trees, the pilot attempted to make a turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain and came to rest inverted, which damaged the tail.
Factual narrative
The pilot flew a visual approach to a 1,712-ft-long by 120-ft-wide turf runway. During touchdown, the airplane bounced and the pilot "felt out of control". The pilot executed a late go around, during which the airplane struck a fence at the end of the airport property, which slowed the airplane. Then, due to approaching trees, the pilot attempted to make a turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain and came to rest inverted, which damaged the tail.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N77273
- Reported as
- Cessna 120 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11486
- Built
- 1946
- Airframe hours
- 3,203
- Engine
- Cont Motor C85 SERIES, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 27, 2017
- Departed
- AIO · Atlantic, IA
- Destination
- HNR · Harlan, IA
- Airport
- HNR · Harlan Muni, runway 03, 1,712 × 120 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 3, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 281 total · 29 in this make and model · 178 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KHNR
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N77273 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.