# NTSB CEN24LA314: Cessna 208, N420DZ, Whitewright, TX, August 11, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 11, 2024, 18:17 local (23:17 UTC)
- Place: Whitewright, TX
- Coordinates: 33.448067, -96.377664
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4481&lon=-96.3777&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194910
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA314
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194910/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194910
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA314

## Probable cause

The pilot’s incomplete flare which resulted a hard, flat landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that she was returning to her home field for landing after performing skydiving operations. The approach was normal until she initiated the flare. During the flare, she perceived the flare was insufficient to arrest the airplane’s descent and added power. The airplane landed hard and flat, collapsing the nose landing gear. The airplane then skidded to a stop. The airplane’s fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N420DZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N420DZ), registered now, S/N 208B0909, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208 (B)
- Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-114a) (registry code 52257, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208B0909
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 8785.5
- Engines: Honeywell TPE-331-12JR-702T 900 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Skydive Spaceland Dallas
- Registered owner: Desert Sand Aircraft Leasing Co Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 2, 2024, 46 hours before
- Departed: 48TX, Whitewright, TX
- Airport: 48TX, Tri-County Aerodrome, runway 35, 4,500 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 14, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,058.2 total, 67.5 in this make and model, 956.3 as pilot in command, 336.3 in the last 90 days, 98.6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KGYI, 21 nm away
- METAR: KGYI 112350Z 11009KT 7SM CLR 32/21 A2999

## 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 20240811020699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240811020699A), Aug 11, 2024: Cessna 208B, Whitewright, TX, Substantial damage. Based on pilot narrative, an approach was made to the grass runway with the intent to land on the grass, then transition onto the concrete runway. Pilot began…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194910. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17751331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report_Simmons_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17751627&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA314%20Photos%202-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.

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