# NTSB GAA15CA300: Cessna 177RG, N1875Q, Aztec, NM, September 21, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2015, 06:58 local (12:58 UTC) - Place: Aztec, NM - Coordinates: 36.836944, -108.02861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8369&lon=-108.0286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 17, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Albuquerque FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 92239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92239/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92239 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA300 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with shrubs. ## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [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 roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll he was "blinded by the sunrise coming straight down the runway." Unable to see, the pilot applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane departed the runway to the left and impacted shrubs. The pilot reduced power to idle and stopped the airplane after impacting the shrubs. The fuselage and stabilator sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing roll he was "blinded by the sunrise coming straight down the runway." Unable to see, the pilot applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane departed the runway to the left and impacted shrubs. The pilot reduced power to idle and stopped the airplane after impacting the shrubs. The fuselage and stabilator sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1875Q (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0275 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2140 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2015 - Departed: 1V0, NAVAJO DAM, NM - Destination: N19, Aztec, NM - Airport: N19, Aztec Muni, runway 8, 4,314 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 10, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,192 total, 1,063 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KFMN, 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 20150921017589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150921017589A), Sep 21, 2015: Cessna 177RG, Aztec, NM, Substantial damage. On September 21, 2015 at 0658 MDT, a Cessna CE-177-RG, N1875Q , touched down off the runway 75 feet north of runway 8 in scrub brush on landing at Aztec… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92239. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Airworthiness Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434948&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Airworthiness%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434949&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 4, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434950&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434951&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%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.