# NTSB CEN20LA130: Cessna 177, N3451T, Harrisville, MI, March 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 22, 2020, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Harrisville, MI - Coordinates: 44.666942, -83.321945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6669&lon=-83.3219&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101102 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101102/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101102 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA130 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing rollout in gusty crosswind conditions, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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 177, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073704), [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: [Cessna 177, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot landed on a narrow grass runway and was about midfield when the airplane encountered a gusty crosswind that pushed the airplane to the left. The pilot countered with right rudder, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and struck trees, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2020, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177, N34517, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Harrisville, Michigan. The pilot and 2 passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he was giving rides to friends in the local pattern at the Harrisville Municipal Airport (5Y0). During the third landing on runway 21, as the airplane passed a gap in the trees on the left side of the runway, a strong wind gust caught the elevator and pushed the airplane to the left and off the grass runway. The reported winds were 120 degrees at 7 knots, equating to a crosswind coming from the left. After the airplane struck trees after it departed the runway resulting in substantial leading-edge damage to the left wing’s spar. The pilot did not report any mechanical control anomalies during the landing and rollout. The pilot reported that the runway was marked with yellow cones along its length, making the landing area about 60-ft in width. However, the runway grass/area is about 100-ft in width. He stated that for some reason, the runway is not centered on the available landing area. Thereby placing an airplane that is landing in proximity to trees bordering the east side of the runway. The pilot offered safety recommendations: 1) Relocate the runway centerline to align with the center of the usable grass/turf area. 2) Move edge cone markers to increase the width of the runway. 3) Remove trees on the East side of the airport to provide additional clearance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3451T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3451T), registered now, S/N 17700751, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700751 - Year built: 1968 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2019 - Departed: 5Y0, Harrisville, MI - Destination: 5Y0, Harrisville, MI - Airport: 5Y0, Harrisville Municipal Airport, runway 21, 2,140 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 120 total, 6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.53 inHg - Observed at: 5Y0 ## 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 20200322001729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200322001729A), Mar 22, 2020: Cessna 177, Harrisville, MI, Substantial damage. On March 22, 2020 at 1300 local time, a Cessna CE-177 aircraft, N3451T, registered to and operated by a private pilot, received substantial damage when it… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101102. 10.1 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report w pilot graphic submission CEN20LA130 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 8.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13037216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20w%20Pilot%20Graphic%20Submission%20CEN20LA130_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN20 LA130 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13036666&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN20%20LA130-Rel.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.