# NTSB GAA16CA091: Cessna 177, N29533, Grass Valley, CA, December 28, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 27, 2015, 16:20 local (Dec 28, 2015, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Grass Valley, CA - Coordinates: 39.224723, -121.005554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2247&lon=-121.0056&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: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 92507 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92507/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92507 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA091 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the touchdown and the subsequent attempted aborted landing which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. ## 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 177, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 9,308 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: [Cessna 177, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,428 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he flew the airport traffic pattern to final approach. While on final approach, the pilot trimmed the airplane to a nose-high pitch attitude and his view of the runway was obscured. The pilot reported that he believed the airplane's airspeed dropped below the aerodynamic stall speed and the airplane yawed to the left. When the airplane touched down on the runway, the pilot reported that the airplane veered left, he applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing. The airplane continued to veer left, exited the left side of the runway and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, right horizontal stabilizer and right elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he flew the airport traffic pattern to final approach. While on final approach, the pilot trimmed the airplane to a nose-high pitch attitude and his view of the runway was obscured. The pilot reported that he believed the airplane's airspeed dropped below the aerodynamic stall speed and the airplane yawed to the left. When the airplane touched down on the runway, the pilot reported that the airplane veered left, he applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing. The airplane continued to veer left, exited the left side of the runway and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, right horizontal stabilizer and right elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29533](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29533-2017-11-28), registration cancelled 2017-11-28, S/N 17700947, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700947 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4186 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2015 - Departed: OXR, OXNARD, CA - Destination: GOO, Grass Valley, CA - Airport: GOO, Nevada County Air Park, runway 07, 4,351 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 22, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,027 total, 700 in this make and model, 967 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KBLU, 14 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 20151227021169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151227021169A), Dec 27, 2015: Cessna 177, Grass Valley, CA, Substantial damage. On 12/27/15 a 177 cardinal N29533 entered the traffic pattern at Grass Valley airport at approximately 16:20 PST. While on final the pilot said that he felt… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92507. 10.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 9.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437462&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.