ERA14CA277

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 177B · Cartersville, GA · June 2, 2014

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 2, 2014, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC)
Place
Cartersville, GA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N30820Cessna 177B
Defining event
Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 18, 2014
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20140602009019A
Case key
89355

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a go-around after landing.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Wind: tailwindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcomeAll aircraft: 594 cases
Object/animal/substance: sign/markerEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeAll aircraft: 214 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Loss of control on groundLanding-aborted after touchdownAll aircraft: 4,585 casesDefining event
Runway excursionLanding-aborted after touchdownAll aircraft: 3,643 cases

Analysis

The pilot reported that he had intended to perform a touch-and-go landing in to the wind; however, traffic was landing and departing in the opposite direction on the 5,760-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot then listened to the automated surface observation system, which indicated the wind was variable and he elected to land in the direction of the other traffic. During short final approach, the pilot noticed his airspeed was about 10 mph faster than normal and the airplane bounced after touchdown. The pilot added power to cushion the second bounce and the airplane began to drift left toward the left side of the runway. Before he could correct for the drift, the airplane bounced a second time. The pilot then added full power to perform a go-around, but the airplane struck a runway sign off the left side of the runway and came to rest upright in a grass area between the runway and taxiway. The pilot further stated that winds were light and variable and that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the firewall and horizontal stabilizer. The recorded wind at the airport, about 30 minutes before and after the accident, was a right crosswind at 6 knots with a 10-degree tailwind component.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he had intended to perform a touch-and-go landing into the wind; however, traffic was landing and departing in the opposite direction on the 5,760-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot then listened to the automated surface observation system, which indicated the wind was variable and he elected to land in the direction of the other traffic. During short final approach, the pilot noticed his airspeed was about 10 mph faster than normal and the airplane bounced after touchdown. The pilot added power to cushion the second bounce and the airplane began to drift left toward the left side of the runway. Before he could correct for the drift, the airplane bounced a second time. The pilot then added full power to perform a go-around, but the airplane struck a runway sign off the left side of the runway and came to rest upright in a grass area between the runway and taxiway. The pilot further stated that winds were light and variable and that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the firewall and horizontal stabilizer. The recorded wind at the airport, about 30 minutes before and after the accident, was a right crosswind at 6 knots with a 10-degree tailwind component.

Aircraft

Registration
N30820
Reported as
Cessna 177B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17701483
Built
1970
Airframe hours
2,865
Engine
Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Julius James D
Registered owner
Julius James D
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 21, 2014 · 3 hours before
Departed
PUJ · Dallas, GA
Destination
VPC · Cartersville, GA
Airport
VPC · Cartersville Airport, runway 01, 5,760 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
63
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 5, 2013
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
321 total · 260 in this make and model · 256 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Observed at
VPC

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.