# NTSB GAA19CA353: Cessna 177, N11823, Festus, MO, May 31, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 30, 2019, 19:00 local (May 31, 2019, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Festus, MO - Coordinates: 38.193054, -90.385833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1931&lon=-90.3858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99656 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA353 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99656/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99656 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA353 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare and failure to maintain pitch control with a crosswind, which resulted in a hard landing and a tail strike. ## 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: [Cessna 177B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane "caught a crosswind" and became airborne again. The airplane touched back down and veered right off the runway into grass. The pilot was able to get the airplane back onto the runway and taxied to park without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector reported that the airplane damage was associated with a hard landing, including a tail strike. He added that further evidence of a tail strike was noted on the bottom side of the tail underneath the vertical stabilizer. An automated weather observation station located about 25 miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 7 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 1. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane "caught a crosswind" and became airborne again. The airplane touched back down and veered off the runway to the right into the grass. The pilot was able to get the airplane back onto the runway and taxied to park without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector reported that the airplane damage was consistent with a hard landing, including a tail strike. He added that further evidence of a tail strike was noted on the bottom side of the tail underneath the vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11823](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11823), registered now, S/N 17702370, built 1975 (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: 17702370 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fenton Flyers Inc - Registered owner: Fenton Flyers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: FES, Festus, MO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: FES, Festus Memorial, runway 01, 2,202 × 49 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 736 total, 12.3 in this make and model, 2.5 in the last 90 days, 0.8 in the last 30 days, 0.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KCPS, 25 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 20190530005439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190530005439A), May 30, 2019: Cessna 177B, Festus, MO, Substantial damage. Received notification of an aircraft incident/accident that took place involving a Cessna 177B with a registration number of N11823. This incident occurred on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99656. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 545 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474980&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 194 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474981&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 829 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.