# NTSB GAA16CA275: Cessna 170, N1441D, Saginaw, MI, May 30, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 30, 2016, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Saginaw, MI - Coordinates: 43.537498, -84.074447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5375&lon=-84.0744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93305/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93305 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA275 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the critical angle of attack during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, hard landing, right main landing gear collapse, runway excursion, and 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 170A, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 991 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,530 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,789 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 2,289 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after a long straight-in final approach, as he reduced power for the landing flare, the airplane dropped "flat" and bounced hard on the runway. The pilot further reported that he added power to cushion the touchdown after the bounce, but the right main landing gear had collapsed after the initial impact. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the left and nosed over. The fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after a long straight-in final approach, as he reduced power for the landing flare, the airplane dropped "flat" and bounced hard on the runway. The pilot further reported that he added power to cushion the touchdown after the bounce, but the right main landing gear had collapsed after the initial impact. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the left and nosed over. The fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1441D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1441D-2016-10-05), registration cancelled 2016-10-05, S/N 20024, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20024 - Year built: 1951 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 50G, CHESANING, MI - Destination: MBS, Saginaw, MI - Airport: MBS, Mbs Intl, runway 23, 8,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 318.6 total, 263.6 in this make and model, 318.6 as pilot in command, 5.3 in the last 90 days, 3.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KMBS ## 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 20160530005279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160530005279A), May 30, 2016: Cessna 170A, Freeland, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that he stalled the aircraft a little higher than normal causing a hard landing. The aircraft bounced a couple of times, veering off the side of… ## Other investigations on N1441D (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX70D0052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70D0052), Jul 18, 1969: Cessna 170A (N1441D), Clifton, AZ, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93305. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 900 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442525&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 958 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442526&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.