# NTSB CHI99LA002: Cessna C-336, N3884U, Sheboygan, WI, October 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 1998, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Sheboygan, WI - Coordinates: 42.899799, -91.090942 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8998&lon=-91.0909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44096 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44096/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that the aircraft porpoised during landing on Runway 13 at Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He added that he was too fast on short final and focused on trying to flare and land without first stabilizing speed. He further stated that this resulted in inadvertent failure to trim nose up to landing attitude. The pilot reported that the landing started with a normal attitude, bounced, and then began to porpoise. The pilot stated that he did not know how to respond. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 1998, at 1100 central daylight time, a Cessna 336, N3884U, owned and piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during landing and overrun on Runway 13 (3,993 feet by 75 feet, asphalt/dry) at Sheboygan County Memorial Airport (SBM), Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Hunington Municipal Airport, Hunington, Indiana, at 0840, and was en route to SBM. In a written statement, the pilot reported the following, "...At SBM entered downwind for Runway 13. Wind was from 100 at 15 kts. Wx clear and dry. Due failure to compensate for the wind in the pattern, turn to final overshot centerline and I used up half of final getting lined up. Maintained 120 mph while turning back to centerline (normal approach is 100mph). Too fast on short final I extended full flaps (from 1/3) and focused on trying to flare and land without first stabilizing speed. This resulted in inadvertent failure to trim nose up to landing attitude. Landing started with normal attitude bounces ... stretched somewhat by excess speed. About when I expected it to stay down (presumably due to the failure to trim nose up) it instead began to porpoise. I didn't know how to respond to that (is there a gap in the training and safety literature regarding proposing? I can't recall ever seeing how to deal with it discussed or a warning that it gets worse rather than better if ignored). I did not respond to 2 small porpoise bounces, which were followed rapidly by a larger one, ... a catastrophic one which wiped out the nose gear and caused both front and rear props to strike the ground. I used a final, level attitude bounce to turn into the grass and the plane came to rest softly and quickly in the long matted grass. I received not so much as a bump. The aircraft was substantially damaged in lower front area." Advisory Circular 61-21A, Flight Training Handbook, under Bouncing During Touchdown, states, "When the airplane contacts the ground with a sharp impact as the result of an improper attitude or an improper attitude or an excessive sink rate, it tends to "bounce" back into the air. ... The severity of the "bounce" depends on the airspeed at the moment of contact and the degree to which the angle of attack or pitch attitude was increased. ... When a bounce is severe, the safest procedure is to EXECUTE A GO-AROUND IMMEDIATELY. No attempt to salvage the landing should be made. ... The go-around procedure should be continued even though the airplane may descend and another bounce may be encountered." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3884U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3884U-2001-11-02), registration cancelled 2001-11-02, S/N 336-0184, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna C-336 - Registry model: [Cessna 336](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-336) (registry code 2075602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 336-0184 - Airframe hours: 2313 - Engines: Continental IO-360-A 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William Drew - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 1998, 23 hours before - Departed: HHG, HUNINGTON, IN - Destination: SBM - Airport: SBM, Sheboygan County Memorial, runway 13, 3,993 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 278 total, 65 in this make and model, 164 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OSH, 34 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 19981004028339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981004028339A), Oct 4, 1998: Cessna 336, Sheboygan, WI, Substantial damage. Acft made a hard landing and sustained substantial damage. (.19) on October 4, 1998, at 1100 central daylight time, a Cessna 336, N3884U, piloted by a private… 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.