# NTSB ERA11CA514: Cirrus Design SR20, N912BG, Gaitherburg, MD, September 28, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 28, 2011, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Gaitherburg, MD - Coordinates: 39.167778, -77.159446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1678&lon=-77.1594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA514 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81966/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81966 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA514 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had conducted five normal practice takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. During the landing flare for the sixth landing, he observed a flock of birds at the end of the runway and attempted to touch down and stop the airplane in a shorter-than-normal distance. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down hard and porpoised several times. On the final touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he had conducted five normal practice takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. During the landing flare for the sixth landing, he observed a flock of birds at the end of the runway and attempted to touch down and stop the airplane in a shorter than normal distance. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down hard and porpoised several times. On the final touchdown the nose gear collapsed. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, observed substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported to the FAA that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N912BG), registered now, S/N 1220 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1220 - Airframe hours: 1147 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Inn Flying Club Inc - Registered owner: Inn Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2011 - Departed: GAI, Gaitherburg, MD - Destination: GAI, Gaitherburg, MD - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GAI, Montgomery County Airpark, runway 14, 4,202 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,252 total, 86 in this make and model, 1,167 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: FDK, 18 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 20110928021339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110928021339A), Sep 28, 2011: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Gaithersburg, MD, Substantial damage. Airman was practicing traffic pattern take-off and landings, starting at approximately 1420 local time, and was the sole occupant of the airplane. He did four… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81966. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 493 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Pilot's Interview with FAA (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358351&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Pilot%27s%20Interview%20with%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 1 (Courtesy FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 918 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.