- Date
- July 20, 2018, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Malden, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N46CHCessna 310
- Defining event
- Landing: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180720017399A
- Case key
- 97904
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 hard 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, while landing, the airplane "hit some turbulence," and it "felt like the bottom dropped out." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing front spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable. The automated weather observation system about 19 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 7 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 18.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane "hit some turbulence" and it "felt like the bottom dropped out". Subsequently, the airplane landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing front spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported on the NTSB form 6120 that the wind was light and variable. The automated weather observation system about 19 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 7 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 18.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N46CH
- Reported as
- Cessna 310 (P)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 310P0146
- Built
- 1969
- Airframe hours
- 4,946.9
- Engines
- Continental IO-470-V, 260 horsepower, reciprocatingContinental IO-470-V, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 9, 2017
- Departed
- BHM · Birmingham, AL
- Destination
- SUX · Sioux City, IA
- Airport
- MAW · Malden Rgnl, runway 18, 5,011 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 20, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 2,500 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Turbulence
- Unknown
- Observed at
- KPOF, 19 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 935 KB 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.