# NTSB GAA17CA447: Michael Dean Grissom Grissom Pober Pixie, N489MG, Louisburg, NC, July 19, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2017, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Louisburg, NC
- Coordinates: 36.134445, -78.282218 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1344&lon=-78.2822&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA447
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95697/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95697
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA447

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Michael Dean Grissom GRISSOM POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05632NV), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Michael Dean Grissom GRISSOM POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05632NV), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Michael Dean Grissom GRISSOM POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=05632NV), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Michael Dean Grissom GRISSOM POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05632NV), [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: [Michael Dean Grissom GRISSOM POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05632NV), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the landing, the airplane "landed short and hard." Subsequently, the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing, the airplane "landed short and hard". Subsequently, the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N489MG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N489MG), registered now, S/N 01, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MICHAEL DEAN GRISSOM GRISSOM POBER PIXIE (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Michael Dean Grissom GRISSOM POBER PIXIE](https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-dean-grissom-grissom-pober-pixie) (registry code 05632NV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A-65-8](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-65-8) (registry code 17329, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 01
- Year built: 2013
- Airframe hours: 41.5
- Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 11, 2017
- Departed: 79NC, Louisburg, NC
- Destination: 79NC, Louisburg, NC
- Airport: 79NC, Ball, runway 36, 2,459 × 40 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 24, 2017; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 220 total, 42 in this make and model, 172 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KLHZ, 7 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 20170719012539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170719012539A), Jul 19, 2017: Michael Dean Grissom GRISSOM POBER PIXIE, Louisburg, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot was on a normal approach to landing at Ball Airport. He was setting up to land on the grass portion of the runway prior to the pavement for runway 36. He…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95697. 904 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 559 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456815&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456816&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.

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