# NTSB GAA16CA288: Cessna 172, N124ME, Henderson, AR, June 5, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2016, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Henderson, AR
- Coordinates: 36.299999, -92.216392 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3000&lon=-92.2164&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: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93337
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA288
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93337/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93337
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA288

## Probable cause

The pilot's decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and nose landing gear collapse.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the initial climb after taking off from a wet grass runway, he believed that the airplane would not clear the trees located at the end of the runway. He further reported that he aborted the takeoff by pushing the nose of the airplane down and reducing power to idle. Subsequently, the airplane touched down hard in a nose low attitude, which resulted in a nose gear collapse and propeller strike on the runway. The firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge requested the pilot to provide the weight and balance calculations from the accident flight. The pilot could not produce a copy of the actual weight and balance, but provided the weights for the occupants and the fuel on board. According to the information provided, the estimated airplane weight and balance should have been within the manufacture's limitations. According to the manufacture's takeoff performance planning charts, the estimated ground roll should have been 1,138 feet and the distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle should have been 1,680 feet; the runway used was 3,000 feet in length with trees located at the end of the runway. The manufacturer's takeoff performance planning charts did not provide information for departing on wet grass surfaces. The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook in part states: "Soft surfaces or long, wet grass usually reduces the airplane's acceleration during the takeoff roll so much that adequate takeoff speed might not be attained if normal takeoff techniques were employed." It is likely that the wet grass increased the ground roll distance, which influenced the pilot's decision to abort the takeoff.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the initial climb after taking off from a wet grass runway, he believed that the airplane would not clear the trees located at the end of the runway. He further reported that he aborted the takeoff by pushing the nose of the airplane down and reducing power to idle. Subsequently, the airplane touched down hard in a nose low attitude, which resulted in a nose gear collapse and propeller strike on the runway. The firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge requested the pilot to provide the weight and balance calculations from the accident flight. The pilot could not produce a copy of the actual weight and balance, but provided the weights for the occupants and the fuel on board. According to the information provided, the estimated airplane weight and balance should have been within the manufacture's limitations. According to the manufacture's takeoff performance planning charts, the estimated ground roll should have been 1,138 feet and the distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle should have been 1,680 feet; the runway used was 3,000 feet in length with trees located at the end of the runway. The manufacturer's takeoff performance planning charts did not provide information for departing on wet grass surfaces. The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook in part states: "Soft surfaces or long, wet grass usually reduces the airplane's acceleration during the takeoff roll so much that adequate takeoff speed might not be attained if normal takeoff techniques were employed." It is likely that the wet grass increased the ground roll distance, which influenced the pilot's decision to abort the takeoff.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N124ME](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N124ME), registered now, S/N 172S8372, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S8372
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 7100
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 22, 2016
- Departed: 75AR, HENDERSON, AR
- Destination: JBR, JONESBORO, AR
- Airport: 75AR, The Bluffs, runway S, 3,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 21, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,989 total, 720 in this make and model, 3,191 as pilot in command, 277 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: KBPK, 13 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 20160605008599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160605008599A), Jun 5, 2016: Cessna 172S, Henderson, AR, Substantial damage. On June 5, 2016 at approximately 17:30 CDT, N124ME a Cessna 172S aircraft, registered to flightime aviation LLC, operated by an airline transport pilot,…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93337. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 908 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF
- Estimated Airplane Performance Information_NTSB (item 3, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442750&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Estimated%20Airplane%20Performance%20Information_NTSB-Master.PDF
- Pilot Statement_Weight and Balance (item 4, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Weight%20and%20Balance-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 5, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442752&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.

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