CHI01LA153

NTSB accident investigation · Rockwell 112TC · Cambridge, MN · June 3, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 3, 2001, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC)
Place
Cambridge, MN
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4612WRockwell 112TC
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 23, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20010603014629A
Case key
52424

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and the failure to maintain control of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident were the trees that the airplane contacted during the aborted landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectLanding - aborted
Object - tree(s)Factor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of control during landing. The pilot reported that while en route he listened to the automated weather observing system (AWOS) for the destination airport and the winds were variable, but at a low speed. The pilot made an approach to land on runway 34. He reported that about 10-15 feet after main gear touchdown a gust of wind lifted the aircraft 8-10 feet above the runway. The airplane settled again and when it was about 5 feet above the ground a "sudden violent gust" lifted the airplane and it rolled between 120 and 150 degrees. The pilot reported he rolled the airplane level, advanced the throttle, raised the landing gear and removed 10 degrees of flaps. He reported that by this time the airplane was headed for a grove of trees off the west side of the runway. The airplane contacted the tops of the trees and settled to the ground. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident the winds were variable at 5 - 7 knots, gusting to 12 knots. A local weather observation taken at 1517, reported the winds were from 040 degrees at 8 knots.

Factual narrative

On June 3, 2001, at 1450 central daylight time, a Rockwell International 112TC, N4612W, collided with the terrain following a loss of control during an aborted landing at the Cambridge Municipal Airport (CBG), Cambridge, Minnesota. The landing was being made on runway 34 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt). The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Blaine, Minnesota, at 1425 cdt.

The pilot reported that while en route he listened to the automated weather observing system (AWOS) for CBG. He reported that he also had contact with another pilot who had just departed the airport. This pilot reported that the winds were variable, but at a low speed. The pilot made an approach to land on runway 34. He reported, "Approximately 10-15 feet after main gear touchdown a gust of wind lifted the aircraft 8-10 feet above the runway. When the aircraft was settling back to the runway it was about 5' above the ground a sudden violent gust lifted and rolled the aircraft 120 [degrees]-150 [degrees]." The pilot reported he rolled the airplane level, advanced the throttle, raised the landing gear and removed 10 [degrees] of flaps. He reported that by this time the airplane was headed for a grove of trees off the west side of the runway. The airplane contacted the tops of the trees. The pilot reported the airplane settled into the trees then "fell [the] last 15' to [the] ground landing flat on [the] belly."

The pilot reported that at the time of the accident the winds were variable at 5 - 7 knots, gusting to 12 knots. A local weather observation taken at 1517, reported the winds were from 040 degrees at 8 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N4612W
Reported as
Rockwell 112TC
Category
Airplane
Serial number
13102
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Timothy W. Holmberg
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
ANE · Blaine, MN
Destination
CBG · Cambridge, MN
Airport
CBG · Cambridge Municipal, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
33
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
March 5, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
124 total · 33 in this make and model · 77 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
40° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.93 inHg
Observed at
CBG

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.