# NTSB CHI04LA076: Cessna 177, N3468T, Sturgis, MI, February 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 14, 2004, 17:24 local (22:24 UTC) - Place: Sturgis, MI - Coordinates: 41.812388, -85.430567 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8124&lon=-85.4306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58808 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58808/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA076 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent raising of flaps resulting in a loss of lift and his failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a dragging of the wing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, go-around (vfr) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - raising of flaps - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a runway during an attempted go-around. The pilot reported that on his third practice landing, at approximately 5-10 feet above ground level, he was aligned just left of the center of the runway with the right wing tip slightly down, when he unexpectedly experienced a small gust of wind. The pilot stated that he attempted a go-around by applying full power and retrimming the airplane. The airplane momentarily began to gain altitude but the pilot mistakenly retracted all the flaps. The airplane settled back to the ground and the right wing tip impacted the runway. The pilot stated that he over corrected causing the left wing tip to impact the runway. The airplane exited the runway coming to a full-stop in snow to the east side of the runway. ## Factual narrative On February 14, 2004, about 1724 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177, N3468T, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during an attempted go-around from runway 18 (5,700 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at Kirsch Municipal Airport (IRS), near Sturgis, Michigan. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at IRS about 1630. The pilot stated that he had performed two crosswind landings successfully. He reported: On the [third] landing at [approximately] 5-10 [feet above ground level] I was set up good with right wing tip slightly down, just to the left of centerline [approximately] 3-4 [feet], when I experienced a small gust. I then attempted a go around, I applied full power, retrimmed and as the plane begin to lift I then mistakenly retracted all flaps. I was forced back down and the right wing tip hit the runway first then I over corrected and the left wing tip hit putting me in the snow on the east side of runway 18. At 1735, the recorded weather at the Branch County Memorial Airport (OEB), approximately 19 nautical miles northeast of the accident airport, near Coldwater, Michigan, was: Wind 250 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition overcast 4,300 feet; temperature -1 degree C; dew point -6 C; altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction failures. The pilot stated, "I should have only retracted partial flaps 'after' I was clear of the ground." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3468T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3468T), registered now, S/N 17700768, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 - 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: 1770768 - Airframe hours: 5227.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael John Unternahrer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 2003, 27.7 hours before - Departed: IRS, Sturgis, MI - Destination: IRS, Sturgis, MI - Airport: IRS, Kirsch Muni, runway 18, 5,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 31, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 134 total, 45 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: OEB, 19 nm away ## 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 20040214003499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040214003499A), Feb 14, 2004: Cessna 177, Sturgis, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was reported as practicing touch and go landings. During landing the pilot reported that his aircraft wing tip struck the ground and slid off the… 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.