# NTSB GAA16CA266: Cessna 177, N29601, Pine Bluff, AR, May 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 29, 2016, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Pine Bluff, AR - Coordinates: 34.174446, -91.935554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1744&lon=-91.9356&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 93274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93274/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93274 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA266 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and her exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack during a low-altitude turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## 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) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 991 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,682 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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 According to the pilot, during a flour bomb competition at a local airport, she was making a bomb run parallel to runway 18 and slowed the airplane to 80 knots, with zero flaps, mixture was rich, throttle was about 75 percent, and carburetor heat was used. About 300 feet above the ground she dropped the bag of flour. She reported that after dropping the flour, she immediately advanced the throttle to full, ensured the mixture was full rich, zero flaps, and carburetor heat was placed in the cold position, but the engine hesitated when full throttle was applied. She reported that she lowered the nose in order to increase the airspeed and made a left turn to re-enter the pattern before establishing a positive rate of climb. She recalled that when she lowered the nose, the airspeed increased to about 100 knots indicated, she turned to the left, and the airplane did not climb. She recalled that the airplane continued to descend into a cornfield, bounced, and when the airplane settled back to the ground, the left main landing gear wheel became stuck in the mud and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. Per the Pilot's Aircraft Accident Report in the (NTSB Form 6120.1 rev. 2013), the pilot reported that when full throttle was applied, the heading of 180 degrees should have been maintained until adequate airspeed was attained before turning crosswind. She asserted that, if the heading of 180 degrees was maintained when full power was not achieved, the plane could have landed on the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that traveled to the accident site, interviewed witnesses and inspected the airplane. The Inspector reported that per the witness statements, the airplane was below the flour bomb designated minimum altitude of 200 feet above the ground and very slow. He reported that according to witnesses the aircraft stalled, lost altitude and landed in a corn field just off the airport property. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during a flour bomb competition at a local airport, she was making a bomb run parallel to runway 18 and slowed the airplane to 80 knots, with zero flaps, mixture was rich, throttle was about 75 percent, and carburetor heat was used. About 300 feet above the ground she dropped the bag of flour. She reported that after dropping the flour, she immediately advanced the throttle to full, ensured the mixture was full rich, zero flaps, and carburetor heat was placed in the cold position, but the engine hesitated when full throttle was applied. She reported that she lowered the nose in order to increase the airspeed and made a left turn to re-enter the pattern before establishing a positive rate of climb. She recalled that when she lowered the nose, the airspeed increased to about 100 knots indicated, she turned to the left, and the airplane did not climb. She recalled that the airplane continued to descend into a cornfield, bounced, and when the airplane settled back to the ground, the left main landing gear wheel became stuck in the mud and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. Per the Pilot's Aircraft Accident Report in the (NTSB Form 6120.1 rev. 2013), the pilot reported that when full throttle was applied, the heading of 180 degrees should have been maintained until adequate airspeed was attained before turning crosswind. She asserted that, if the heading of 180 degrees was maintained when full power was not achieved, the plane could have landed on the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that traveled to the accident site, interviewed witnesses and inspected the airplane. The Inspector reported that per the witness statements, the airplane was below the flour bomb designated minimum altitude of 200 feet above the ground and very slow. He reported that according to witnesses the aircraft stalled, lost altitude and landed in a corn field just off the airport property. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29601](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29601-2018-02-13), registration cancelled 2018-02-13, S/N 17700985, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700985 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 1622 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F186 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PBF, PINE BLUFF, AR - Destination: PBF, Pine Bluff, AR - Airport: PBF, Grider Field, runway 18, 5,998 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 287 total, 28.2 in this make and model, 17.1 in the last 90 days, 4.1 in the last 30 days, 1.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KPBF ## 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 20160529005629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160529005629A), May 29, 2016: Cessna 177, Pine Bluff, AR, Substantial damage. On may 29, 2016 at approximately 09:30 central daylight time, a 1968 Cessna 177 cardinal airplane, N29601 impacted the terrain at pbf/ Pine Bluff, Arkansas.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93274. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 404 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447671&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Cessna 177 Owner's Manual Excerpt (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447672&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20177%20Owner%27s%20Manual%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Photographs (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447673&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs-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.