GAA17CA325

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182 · Ellington, CT · June 1, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 1, 2017, 13:45 UTC
Place
Ellington, CT
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6193BCessna 182
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 11, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20170601011179A
Case key
95315

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s unstabilized approach and failure to go around in rainy, gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to land due to the deteriorating weather conditions.

Findings · 7

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 182A: 18 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Ceiling/visibility/precip: rainEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipmentCessna 182A: 2 casesAll aircraft: 56 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide pathAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 182A: 3 casesAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause
Aircraft capability: landing distanceAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededCessna 182A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 68 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 182A: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 cases
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 182A: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

According to the pilot, he landed the airplane on the 1,800-ft-long asphalt runway in the rain at 70 mph with full flaps. He reported that, on final, he had considered conducting a go-around due to wind and weather, but "we were low, slow, and 130 pounds below maximum gross weight with very dynamic wind conditions at the time and …apartment buildings about 400 yards beyond the end of runway 19." During the landing, he touched down with a right crosswind, about 600 ft beyond the runway threshold. He recalled that he retracted the flaps and pulled the control wheel all the way aft to put as much weight as possible on the main wheels, but he "felt our ground speed was fast and we must have a tailwind." He applied heavy braking, and as the end of the runway approached, he applied full left rudder to avoid a gully that was just beyond the end of the runway. The airplane exited the end of the runway and veered left. The airplane entered the gully and impacted vegetation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and aileron. The nearest METAR was 10 nautical miles east of the accident site, and it reported that the wind was from 270° at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The visibility was 10 statute miles with light rain. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented by initiating a go-around after he realized that he could not land in the first third of the runway. He noted that the approaching rain and wind conditions added personal pressure to land before conditions deteriorated. Additionally, he reported that under normal, dry conditions, heavy braking was required to prevent an overrun.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he landed the airplane on the 1,800-foot asphalt runway in the rain at 70 miles per hour with full flaps. He reported that on final, he had considered a go-around due to wind and weather, but "we were low, slow, and 130 pounds below maximum gross weight with very dynamic wind conditions at the time and there are apartment buildings about 400 yards beyond the end of runway 19." During the landing, he touched down with a right crosswind, about 600 feet beyond the runway threshold. He recalled that he, retracted the flaps, and pulled the control wheel all the way aft to put as much weight as possible on the main wheels, but he "felt our ground speed was fast and we must have a tailwind." He applied heavy braking, and as the end of the runway approached, he applied full left rudder to avoid a gully that was just beyond the end of the runway. The airplane exited the end of the runway and veered to the left. The airplane entered the gully and impacted vegetation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and aileron. The nearest METAR was 10 nautical miles east of the accident site, and reported that the wind was from 270° at 13 knots and gusting to 20 knots. The visibility was 10 statute miles with light rain. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented by initiating a go-around after he realized that he could not land in the beginning of the first 1/3 of the runway. He noted that the approaching rain and wind condition added personal pressure to land before conditions deteriorated. Additionally, he reported that under normal, dry conditions, heavy braking was required to prevent an overrun.

Aircraft

Registration
N6193B
Reported as
Cessna 182 (A)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
34193
Built
1957
Airframe hours
12,792.5
Engine
Cont Motor O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Skydiving · Part 91
Operator
Connecticut Parachutists Inc
Registered owner
Connecticut Parachutists Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 27, 2016
Departed
7B9 · Ellington, CT
Destination
7B9 · Ellington, CT
Airport
7B9 · Ellington, runway 19, 1,800 × 150 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
65
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 22, 2016
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
944 total · 14 in this make and model · 832 as pilot in command · 39 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 13 knots, gusting 20
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
7,000 ft broken
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
29.87 inHg
Observed at
KBDL, 10 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.9 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N6193B · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.