# NTSB ERA15CA086: Cessna 310N, N177JD, Liberty, NC, December 28, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 27, 2014, 19:35 local (Dec 28, 2014, 00:35 UTC) - Place: Liberty, NC - Coordinates: 35.911666, -79.617774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9117&lon=-79.6178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 90547 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90547/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90547 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA086 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the left main landing gear. ## 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 310N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2074234), [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 310N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2074234), [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-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2074234), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 310N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2074234), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 310N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2074234), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while landing at night in visual meteorological conditions, the airplane landed hard and the left main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In an interview with the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot stated he was accustomed to approaches with instrument and visual glidepath guidance. According to the airport/facilities directory entry for the accident airport, a note advised pilots that the size, spacing, and number of runway edge and end lights were not standard. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that while landing at night in visual meteorological conditions, the airplane landed hard and the left main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In an interview with the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot stated he was accustomed to approaches with instrument and visual glidepath guidance. According to the airport/facilities directory entry for the accident airport, a note advised pilots that the size, spacing, and number of runway edge and end lights were not standard. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177JD-2018-03-20), registration cancelled 2018-03-20, S/N 310N-0121, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310N - Registry model: [Cessna 310N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310n) (registry code 2074234) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310N-0121 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4430 - Engines: CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bullock James R Jr - Registered owner: Bullock James R Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2014 - Departed: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: 2A5, Liberty, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 2A5, Causey, runway 02, 3,800 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 25,000 total, 15,000 in this make and model, 23,800 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KBUY, 11 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 20141227022249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141227022249A), Dec 27, 2014: Cessna 310N, Liberty, NC, Substantial damage. Aircraft suffered left main landing gear collapse as a result of a hard landing on runway 2 after a night landing in visual meteorlogical conditions. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90547. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector’s Statement (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%E2%80%99s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Buckled Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Buckled%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Buckled Right Wing and Fuselage at Wing Root (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Buckled%20Right%20Wing%20and%20Fuselage%20at%20Wing%20Root%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.