# NTSB ERA12CA581: Cessna 208B, N127AR, Statesboro, GA, September 26, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 26, 2012, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Statesboro, GA - Coordinates: 32.482776, -81.736946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4828&lon=-81.7369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85157 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA581 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85157/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85157 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA581 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); 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) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to complete recurrent training in the airplane. While on the downwind leg for a landing on runway 5, the flight instructor configured the airplane for a simulated engine failure maneuver. The pilot said he told the instructor that the airplane was too high for a landing on runway 5, so they agreed that he would land on runway 32.The pilot said that as he turned the airplane onto the final leg for runway 32, the airplane overshot the centerline and it began to descend about 200 feet per minute. About 150 feet above ground level, the pilot added power, but the airplane continued to descend and the left main gear and left wing tip impacted the runway and the airplane bounced. The pilot added full power and executed a go-around. The pilot said that during the go-around he noticed that the left outboard wing was bent and an observer in the back of the airplane reported that the left main landing gear was bent. The pilot said he flew the airplane around the pattern, and after the airplane landed, he noted it was difficult to steer the airplane and the airplane veered off the runway and came to rest in a grassy area. During the hard landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to complete recurrent training in the airplane. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the flight instructor configured the airplane for a simulated engine failure maneuver. The airplane was about a quarter mile from the runway on the base leg of the traffic pattern and the ground proximity warning system announced “500 feet.” As the pilot turned the airplane onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane overshot the centerline and it began to descend about 200 feet per minute. Then, about 150 feet above ground level, the pilot began to add power, but the airplane continued to descend and subsequently impacted the runway and bounced. The pilot recovered the airplane from the bounce, proceeded to takeoff and flew the airplane around the pattern. The occupants of the airplane noted that the left wing was bent and witness told them that the left main landing gear was bent. During the landing, the airplane veered off the runway and came to rest in a grassy area. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N127AR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N127AR), registered now, S/N 208B1055, built 2004 (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 PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B1055 - Airframe hours: 3310 - Engines: P&W PT6A SER 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dst, LLC - Registered owner: Tenax Aerospace, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 6, 2012 - Departed: SAV, Savannah, GA - Destination: TBR, Statesboro, GA - Airport: TBR, Statesboro-Bulloch County, runway 32, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 1,025 in this make and model, 7,403 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 66; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 9,100 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: TBR ## 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 20120926020359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120926020359A), Sep 26, 2012: Cessna 208B, Statesboro, GA, Substantial damage. On 9/26/2012 @ approximately 1300L dst I was a participant in a telephone conference call with 3 atl FSDO operations inspectors. The purpose of the phone… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85157. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378059&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 3, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Observations (item 5, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378056&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of damaged left wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379911&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20damaged%20left%20wing%20(Courtesy%20of%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.