CHI04LA004

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 140 · Waterloo, IA · October 3, 2003

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 3, 2003, 14:46 local (19:46 UTC)
Place
Waterloo, IA
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N72701Cessna 140
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 3, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20031003026639A
Case key
58121

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 which resulted in his failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing. A factor associated with the accident was the strong, gusty wind condition.

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
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Weather condition - high windFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Terrain condition - other

Analysis

The airplane cart wheeled following a loss of control while landing on runway 30. The pilot reported he contacted Flight Service and heard transmissions from other aircraft so he knew the winds were strong and gusty out of the northwest. He also listened to automated terminal information service (ATIS) prior to landing. The pilot stated he was at 60 miles per hour and as the left wheel touched down, the right wing began to rise. He applied full power and removed the carburetor heat to go-around. The pilot stated the right wing continued to rise and he was unable to lower it or the nose in order to gain more airspeed. He stated the left wing contacted the runway followed by the propeller, main gear, and right wing tip. The pilot stated he believed the left wing was in a "stall mode." The local winds recorded one minute prior to the accident were from 330 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 27 knots.

Factual narrative

On October 3, 2003, at 1446 central daylight time, a Cessna 140, N72701, operated by a commercial pilot cart wheeled following a loss of control while landing on runway 30 (8,400 feet by 150 feet) at the Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO), Waterloo, Iowa. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from the East Kansas City Airport (3GV), Grain Valley, Missouri, at 1200.

The pilot reported he originally departed from Taylor, Texas. He made en route stops in Mc Alester, Oklahoma, Grain Valley, Missouri, and was stopping at ALO in Waterloo, Iowa, before continuing to his final destination of Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin.

The pilot reported he contacted Flight Service and heard transmissions from other aircraft so he knew the winds were strong and gusty out of the northwest. He also listened to the automated terminal information service (ATIS) prior to landing. The pilot stated the winds were from approximately 330 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots.

The pilot reported that he was cleared to land and as he turned onto final approach "the tower called to a business jet that was back-taxiing to runway 30 (the same as I had landing clearance for and asked if they were [ready] for takeoff. The business jet responded that they were allowed to takeoff with me being on final."

The pilot stated he was at 60 miles per hour and as the left wheel touched down, the right wing began to rise. He applied full power and removed the carburetor heat to go-around. The pilot stated the right wing continued to rise and he was unable to lower it or the nose in order to gain more airspeed. He stated the left wing contacted the runway followed by the propeller, main gear, and right wing tip. During a telephone interview the pilot stated he believed the left wing was in a "stall mode."

A review of the air traffic control tower communications tape revealed N72701 was cleared to land on runway 30. About 33 seconds later, Mesaba 2724, a Saab 340, contacted the tower stating they were ready to taxi. Mesaba 2724 was subsequently cleared to taxi on runway 30. About 1 minute 43 seconds later, Mesaba 2724 reported being ready for takeoff. Mesaba 2724 was issued a departure heading and was cleared for takeoff. One minute and 2 seconds later, Mesaba 2724 was instructed to contact departure control. Approximately 20 seconds later the tower controller broadcast a wind check stating the winds were from 310 degrees at 21 knots. One minute and 24 seconds later, the controller stated there had been an accident on the airport. Approximately 2 minutes and 46 seconds transpired from the time Mesaba 2724 was cleared for takeoff until the controller reported the accident.

The winds recorded by the ALO automated service observing system (ASOS) at 1445 were from 330 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 27 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N72701
Reported as
Cessna 140
Category
Airplane
Serial number
9880
Engine
Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert F. Lake
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
3GV · Grain Valley, MO
Destination
ALO · Waterloo, IA
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
ALO · Waterloo Municipal, runway 30, 8,400 × 150 ft, concrete

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
56
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane, Helicopter
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,917 total · 160 in this make and model · 3,707 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
330° at 20 knots, gusting 27
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 28 °F
Altimeter
29.70 inHg
Observed at
ALO

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 N72701 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.