- Date
- July 16, 2017, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N166ZCessna TU206
- Defining event
- Landing: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 22, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170716009099A
- Case key
- 95598
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 improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a porpoised landing.
Findings · 3
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.
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
The pilot reported that, during the touchdown, a wind gust caused the airplane to float back into the air. Subsequently, the airplane porpoised, and he initiated a go-around. The second landing was uneventful; however, before the airplane exited onto the taxiway, the front wheel seized. A postaccident examination revealed that the front tire rim was damaged and that the tire was flat. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 120° at 11 knots. The pilot landed on runway 12.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during the landing touchdown, a gust of wind caused the airplane to float back into the air. Subsequently, the airplane porpoised, and he initiated a go-around. The second landing was uneventful, however, before the airplane exited onto the taxiway the front wheel seized. A post-accident examination revealed that, the front tire rim was damaged and the tire was flat. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the accident airport reported, about the time of the accident, the wind from 120° at 11 knots. The pilot landed on runway 12.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N166Z
- Reported as
- Cessna TU206 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20606923
- Built
- 1986
- Airframe hours
- 4,887
- Engine
- TCM TSIO-520M7B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Public use
- Operator
- Usda Forest Service Fire & Aviation
- Registered owner
- Usda Forest Service Fire & Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 29, 2017
- Departed
- SGU · St George, UT
- Destination
- ABQ · Albuquerque, NM
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- ABQ · Albuquerque Intl Sunport, runway 12, 6,000 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather
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
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 14, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,993 total · 14 in this make and model · 1,611 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KABQ
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 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.