# NTSB GAA15CA289: Cessna 195, N3484V, Merritt Island, FL, September 23, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 23, 2015, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Merritt Island, FL - Coordinates: 28.341667, -80.685554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3417&lon=-80.6856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92094 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92094/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92094 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA289 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive braking during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. ## 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: [Cessna 195, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: braking capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 195, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he performed a wheel landing on the asphalt runway. The pilot stated that he landed at a speed of 70 miles per hour, and that he allowed the tailwheel to touch down on the runway at approximately 45 miles per hour. He stated that when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane rapidly veered to the left and he attempted to correct the left movement by applying right rudder as well as the brakes. Excessive braking resulted in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings and empennage. Photographs provided by the FAA showed the airplane veering about 30 degrees toward the left edge of the runway. The left tire mark showed in excess of 30 feet of full tread width, dark black, rubber skid, while the right tire mark showed continual skidding of the inside (right) edge and intermittent full tread width skids. About 30 feet from where the airplane came to rest inverted, the left skid mark lightened up showing continual tread edge skidding and intermittent full tread width skids, and the airplane had turned to the right paralleling to the runway edge. No tailwheel marks were visible in the photographs. The airplane came to rest inverted about 75 feet short of the B4 intersection. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he performed a wheel landing on the asphalt runway. The pilot stated that he landed at a speed of 70 miles per hour, and that he allowed the tailwheel to touch down on the runway at approximately 45 miles per hour. He stated that when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane rapidly veered to the left and he attempted to correct the left movement by applying right rudder as well as the brakes. Excessive braking resulted in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings and empennage. Photographs provided by the FAA showed the airplane veering about 30 degrees toward the left edge of the runway. The left tire mark showed in excess of 30 feet of full tread width, dark black, rubber skid, while the right tire mark showed continual skidding of the inside (right) edge and intermittent full tread width skids. About 30 feet from where the airplane came to rest inverted, the left skid mark lightened up showing continual tread edge skidding and intermittent full tread width skids, and the airplane had turned to the right paralleling to the runway edge. No tailwheel marks were visible in the photographs. The airplane came to rest inverted about 75 feet short of the B4 intersection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3484V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3484V), registered now, S/N 7184 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 195 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 195](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-195) (registry code 2073102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R755A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755a-series) (registry code 35006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7184 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 2617 - Engines: JACOBS R755B2 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eric H. Cappel - Registered owner: Eric H. Cappel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2015, 6 hours before - Departed: GIF, Winter Haven's, FL - Destination: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Airport: COI, Merritt Island, runway 11, 3,601 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 20,500 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: COF, 8 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 20150923023469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150923023469A), Sep 23, 2015: Cessna 195, Merritt Island, FL, Substantial damage. On September 23, 2015 at approximately 17:37 UTC, a Cessna 195 (N3448V), serial # 7148 on landing RUNWAY11 at kcoi, aircraft veered left and flipped over on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92094. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436457&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.