# NTSB ERA12CA519: Cessna 208B, N80GE, Raeford, NC, August 18, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2012, 15:47 local (19:47 UTC) - Place: Raeford, NC - Coordinates: 35.019721, -79.188056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0197&lon=-79.1881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA519 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84746/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84746 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA519 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land in a grassy area next to a paved runway, which resulted in impact with a ditch and subsequent nose landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the landing on a grassy area that was parallel to the paved runway, the airplane touched down and impacted a ditch near an intersecting taxiway. The airplane became airborne, touched down on the other side of the intersecting taxiway, bounced again, and then landed hard on the nose gear, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that the ditch was about 200 feet from his initial touchdown point and that he regularly lands on the grass, in the opposite direction, in order to minimize the wear on the main landing gear tires. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during the landing on a grassy area that was parallel to the paved runway, the airplane touched down and impacted a ditch near an intersecting taxiway. The airplane became airborne, touched down on the other side of the intersecting taxiway, bounced again, and then landed hard on the nose gear, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear. In a telephone interview the pilot stated that the ditch was approximately 200 feet from his initial touchdown point and that he regularly lands on the grass, in the opposite direction, in order to minimize the wear on the main landing gear tires. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80GE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80GE), registered now, S/N 208B0585, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-42a) (registry code 52268, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0585 - Airframe hours: 2965 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Dugan, Briggs And Associates, doing business as DBA Aviation - Registered owner: Paraclete Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 2012, 60 hours before - Departed: SOP, Southernpines, NC - Destination: 5W4, Raeford, NC - Airport: 5W4, P K Airpark, runway 04, 3,402 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 20, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,342 total, 32 in this make and model, 1,191 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days - Other flight crew; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review November 27, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 770 total, 8 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: POB, 12 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 20120818021929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120818021929A), Aug 18, 2012: Cessna 208B, Raeford, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot decided to land in the grass alongside the runway. On landing roll out, the aircraft crossed a paved taxiway with a depression on both sides of the… ## Other investigations on N80GE (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA24WA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA24WA089), Feb 11, 2024: Cessna 208 (N80GE), Puerto Escondido, Mexico, substantial damage, 1 fatal ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84746. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 371 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot Phone Interview (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Phone%20Interview-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Pope AFB Weather (item 4, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pope%20AFB%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photos Courtesy of the FAA (6 Embedded Photos) (item 5, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA%20(6%20Embedded%20Photos)-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.