# NTSB GAA15CA069: Buhlmann Howard HB-1, N170HB, Canandaigua, NY, May 8, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 8, 2015, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Canandaigua, NY
- Coordinates: 42.907775, -77.322219 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9078&lon=-77.3222&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91170
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91170/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91170
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA069

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to land beyond the marked runway threshold, which resulted in a collision with a culvert and a loss of control on the ground.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Buhlmann Howard HB-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056270H), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Buhlmann Howard HB-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056270H), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Buhlmann Howard HB-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=056270H), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Buhlmann Howard HB-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=056270H), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Buhlmann Howard HB-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056270H), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Buhlmann Howard HB-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056270H), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Buhlmann Howard HB-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056270H), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Due to the crosswind component, the pilot chose to land on an unpublished grass runway on the airport. According to the pilot, he approached the landing area low and slow without sufficient power to clear a culvert prior to the intended touchdown zone. The right landing gear impacted the culvert and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest after impacting a ditch to the left of the grass runway. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage.

## Factual narrative

Due to the crosswind component, the pilot chose to land on an unpublished grass runway on the airport. According to the pilot, he approached the landing area low and slow without sufficient power to clear a culvert prior to the intended touchdown zone. The right landing gear impacted the culvert and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest after impacting a ditch to the left of the grass runway. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N170HB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N170HB-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 960401, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUHLMANN HOWARD HB-1 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Buhlmann Howard HB-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/buhlmann-howard-hb-1) (registry code 056270H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 960401
- Year built: 2009
- Airframe hours: 349.2
- Engines: Jabiru 2200A 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Buhlmann Howard C
- Registered owner: Buhlmann Howard C
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, April 25, 2015
- Departed: D38, Canandaigua, NY
- Destination: D38, Canandaigua, NY
- Airport: D38, Canandaigua

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 800 total, 359 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KPEO, 20 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 20150508005919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150508005919A), May 8, 2015: Buhlmann Howard HB-1, Canandaigua, NY, Substantial damage. 5/8 1800Z df - Canandaigua Airport, NY: N170HB, a Kitfox, landed short of runway 13. POB: 1, injuries: none, 7 Knt 90 degree cross wind, at limit of aircraft,…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91170. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 895 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command - 2) (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428716&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command%20-%202)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Right Fuselage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Fuselage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – View of Grass Landing Area Threshold (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Grass%20Landing%20Area%20Threshold%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.