# NTSB GAA17CA128: Cessna 210, N59196, Charleston, WV, January 28, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 28, 2017, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, WV
- Coordinates: 38.377777, -81.590278 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3778&lon=-81.5903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94673
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94673/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94673
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA128

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and runway excursion.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073448), [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; cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions, as he "expected" to touch down, he reduced engine power. The airplane ballooned, followed by a hard landing and a bounce. During a subsequent second bounce, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then veered left, exited the runway, and came to a stop nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot landed on runway 23, and the reported the wind was 260° at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions, as he "expected" to touch down he reduced engine power. He further reported that the airplane ballooned, followed by a hard landing and a bounce. During a subsequent second bounce, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then veered left, exited the runway, and came to a stop nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot landed runway 23, and reported the wind as 260° at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59196](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59196-2019-05-13), registration cancelled 2019-05-13, S/N 21060155, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210 (L)
- Registry model: [Cessna 210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (registry code 2073448) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21060155
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 4199
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 L7 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 2016
- Departed: CRW, Charleston, WV
- Destination: CRW, Charleston, WV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CRW, Yeager, runway 23, 6,802 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,169 total, 347 in this make and model, 1,169 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observed at: KCRW

## 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 20170128016129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170128016129A), Jan 28, 2017: Cessna 210L, Charleston, WV, Substantial damage. During the touchdown phase of flight the aircraft, due to mismanaging contols, began to oscillate causing loss of control. The pilot was unable to regain…

## Other investigations on N59196 (2)

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 ERA16LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA135), Mar 19, 2016: Cessna 210L (N59196), Myrtle Beach, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A complete loss of electrical power, which resulted from the separation of an alternator wire due to corrosion. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the emergency landing gear extension…
- [NTSB IAD76FIJ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76FIJ02), Jul 26, 1975: Cessna 210L (N59196), Poca, WV, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94673. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 300 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450170&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.

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