# NTSB GAA17CA162: Cessna T337, N685V, Linden, NJ, February 24, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 24, 2017, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Linden, NJ - Coordinates: 40.617221, -74.243614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6172&lon=-74.2436&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - 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): 94795 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94795/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94795 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA162 ## Probable cause The pilot’s abrupt maneuver to avoid birds during short final approach, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. ## 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 T337G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during approach, he pushed the yoke forward to avoid a flock of birds in his flightpath, which resulted in an "increased and abnormal rate of descent." He was then unable to arrest the descent, and the "main landing gear made very hard contact with the runway." The airplane bounced, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Diagram page for the destination airport in part states: "Birds on and invof [in vicinity of] arpt." ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during approach he pushed the yoke forward to avoid a flock of birds in his flight path, which resulted in an "increased and abnormal rate of descent". He further reported that he was then unable to arrest the descent and the "main landing gear made very hard contact with the runway". The airplane bounced, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Diagram page for the destination airport in part states: "Birds on and invof [in vicinity of] arpt." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N685V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N685V), registered now, S/N P3370265, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T337 (G) - Registry model: [Cessna T337G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t337g) (registry code 2075726) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P3370265 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 2030.1 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-CB6B 225 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-360-CB5 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2016 - Departed: LDJ, Linden, NJ - Destination: LDJ, Linden, NJ - Airport: LDJ, Linden, runway 27, 4,140 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 525 total, 165 in this make and model, 424 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KLDJ ## 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 20170224007769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170224007769A), Feb 24, 2017: Cessna T337G, Linden, NJ, Substantial damage. On February 24, 2017, at 2050 EST, a Cessna 337G, N685V, registered to alpha golf flyers inc., while doing night pattern work, in visual meterorological… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94795. 360 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 264 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450398&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. --- 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.