# NTSB GAA17CA209: Cessna 140, N7838B, St. Petersburg, FL, March 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 28, 2017, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.764999, -82.629165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7650&lon=-82.6292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 7, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94930/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94930 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA209 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s overcorrection with rudder during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was receiving instruction in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. He reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane turned left and that he "over corrected with too much right rudder." He added that the airplane ground looped, exited the runway to the right, and came to rest in a nose-down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot receiving instruction in a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll the airplane turned left and he "over corrected with too much right rudder". He added that the airplane ground looped, exited the runway to the right, and came to rest in a nose down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7838B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7838B-2018-07-16), registration cancelled 2018-07-16, S/N 15694 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 140A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (registry code 2071604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15694 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 4406.5 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: St. Pete Aviation Services, LLC, doing business as St. Pete Air - Registered owner: N7838bravo LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 9, 2017 - Departed: SPG, St. Petersburg, FL - Destination: SPG, St. Petersburg, FL - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted, runway 07, 3,677 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 16, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,210 total, 32 in this make and model, 8,043 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 281 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KSPG ## 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 20170328002239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170328002239A), Mar 28, 2017: Cessna 140A, St. Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. On March 28, 2017, at 0918 EDT, a Cessna 140A, N7838B, registered to N7838BRAVO, LLC, ran off the runway during touch and go rollout at Albert Whitted Airport,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94930. 937 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451903&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.