# NTSB GAA17CA274: Cessna 177, N34207, Frankston, TX, May 10, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 10, 2017, 03:30 local (08:30 UTC) - Place: Frankston, TX - Coordinates: 32.081665, -95.452499 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0817&lon=-95.4525&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA274 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95155/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95155 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA274 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of runway visibility during landing in rain, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of situational awareness and subsequent loss of airplane control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: rain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035/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 177B, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he made an approach to a grass airstrip in light rain conditions with mist. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a rain shower, and the pilot's visibility was obscured. The pilot began the landing, but he lost sight of the runway. The airplane touched down left of the runway centerline and veered off the left side of the runway. He recalled that "by the time I was aware of my position it was not possible to correct," and the airplane impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing spars and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he made an approach to a grass airstrip in light rain conditions with mist. During the landing flair, the airplane encountered a rain shower and the pilot's visibility was obscured. The pilot commenced the landing but he lost visibility of the runway. The airplane touched down left of the runway centerline and veered off the left side of the runway. He recalled that, "By the time I was aware of my position it was not possible to correct," and the airplane impacted the trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wing spars and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34207](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34207-2019-03-20), registration cancelled 2019-03-20, S/N 17701705, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17701705 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 7285 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 2017 - Departed: KJDD, Mineola, TX - Destination: T25, Frankston, TX - Airport: T25, Aero Estates, runway 27, 3,100 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 88; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 29, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,122 total, 5 in this make and model, 2,122 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KTYR, 16 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 20170510005049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170510005049A), May 10, 2017: Cessna 177B, Frankston, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot was turning at final and overflew the runway. He tried to correct it but landed diagonally on the runway and was not able to straighten the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95155. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.