# NTSB CHI04LA038: Cessna 340A, N200GC, Poplar Bluff, MO, November 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 24, 2003, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Poplar Bluff, MO - Coordinates: 36.773887, -90.324722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7739&lon=-90.3247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA -- St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58433 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58433/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA038 ## Probable cause Failure to maintain directional control during landing. Collapse of the nose landing gear, the muddy grass/turf and the berm were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor) - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed (contributing factor) ## Analysis The twin-engine airplane was substantially damaged when it departed runway 36 during landing. The nose landing gear collapsed when the aircraft encountered soft, muddy turf adjacent to the runway and subsequently impacted a berm. The pilot reported that everything was normal throughout the flight until short final, just prior to touchdown. He stated that winds were from 320 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported that when he attempted to align the nose of the aircraft with the runway for touchdown, he had no right rudder control. He stated: "I observed that the right rudder pedal was fully deflected to the right. I tried to get it loose or back to the normal position with my foot to no avail." After touchdown the aircraft "veered" to the left. Attempts to correct to the right were unsuccessful. The pilot noted, "I tried using differential power to maintain runway alignment but was unable. At this point, I reduced power back to the stops/idle, trying to maneuver the aircraft the best I could. During this time I had no right rudder control. Once the aircraft [came] to a complete stop, it was shut down." Post-accident inspection confirmed rudder control continuity and brake system integrity. Full rudder travel, without restriction or binding, was observed. Rudder pedal inputs produced a proper, corresponding rudder movement. No anomalies with the nose wheel steering system which could be attributed to a pre-impact malfunction, were observed. The brake system appeared to be intact and to operate normally. ## Factual narrative On November 24, 2003, at 0800 central standard time, a Cessna 340A, N200GC, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged when it departed runway 36 (5,007 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) during landing at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport (POF), Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed when the aircraft encountered soft, muddy turf adjacent to the runway and impacted a berm. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan at the time of the accident. The flight departed the Jefferson City Memorial Airport on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan with an intended destination of POF. The pilot reported that he canceled his IFR flight plan prior to entering the traffic pattern at POF, completing the remainder of the flight under visual flight rules. In the pilot's written statement, he reported that everything was normal throughout the flight until short final, just prior to touchdown. He stated that winds were from 320 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot noted that the aircraft was crabbed into the wind in order to compensate for the slight left crosswind. When he thought that the landing was assured, he selected full flaps and attempted to align the nose of the aircraft with the runway for touchdown. He stated: "I felt no right rudder control. I observed that the right rudder pedal was fully deflected to the right. I tried to get it loose or back to the normal position with my foot to no avail." The pilot reported that after touchdown the aircraft "veered" to the left. Attempts to correct to the right were unsuccessful, according to the pilot. He noted, "I tried using differential power to maintain runway alignment but was unable. At this point, I reduced power back to the stops/idle, trying to maneuver the aircraft the best I could. During this time I had no right rudder control. Once the aircraft [came] to a complete stop, it was shut down. Before leaving the aircraft, I looked at both rudder control pedals and they both appeared to be in the normal position." Post-accident inspections by a local mechanic and a Federal Aviation Administration Maintenance Inspector confirmed rudder control continuity and brake system integrity. Full rudder travel, without restriction or binding, was observed. Rudder pedal inputs produced the corresponding rudder movement. Although the nose landing gear had collapsed, no anomalies with the nose wheel steering system which could be attributed to a pre-impact malfunction were observed. The brake system appeared to be intact and to operate normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N200GC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N200GC), registered now, S/N 340A0503, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 340A - Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340A0503 - Airframe hours: 5441.5 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NB 325 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-540 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 2003, 58 hours before - Departed: JEF, Jefferson City, MO - Destination: POF, Poplar Bluff, MO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: POF, Poplar Bluff Municipal, runway 36, 5,007 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 22, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 12,517 total, 513 in this make and model, 10,272 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: POF ## 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 20031124032679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031124032679A), Nov 24, 2003: Cessna 340A, Poplar Bluff, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 24, 2003 at approximately 08:00 am, a Cessna 340A, registration number N200GC, serial number C340A-0503, on a flight from jefferson city,… 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.