# NTSB GAA19CA470: Cessna 177, N177CW, Placerville, CA, July 30, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 30, 2019, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Placerville, CA - Coordinates: 38.724166, -120.753334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7242&lon=-120.7533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA470 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99973/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99973 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA470 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane bounced, and he chose to go around. He stated that he did not recall the airspeed after he applied full power and retracted the flaps to 10° during the initial climb. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted terrain. A witness at the airport reported that the airplane was operating under full power at a high angle of attack. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. 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, while landing, the airplane bounced, and he elected to go-around. After applying full power and retracting the flap to 10° during the initial climb, he did not recall the airspeed. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A witness at the airport, reported that, "his angle of attack was so high, there was no way it was going to fly. It was full power and looked like full aft yoke." The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 240° at 4 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 23. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177CW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177CW-2020-10-10), registration cancelled 2020-10-10, S/N 17700855 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700855 - Engines: reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: PVF, Placerville, CA - Destination: PVF, Placerville, CA - Airport: PVF, Placerville, runway 23, 3,910 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 13, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,852 total, 0.5 in this make and model, 1,476 as pilot in command, 6.9 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KPVF ## 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 20190730024309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190730024309A), Jul 30, 2019: Cessna 177, Placerville, CA, Substantial damage. Airport: Placerville, kpvf 2,586?MSL, using rwy 23, 3,914? Long. The weather was clear, a light wind from the sw, 68°f. rwy 23 has a 75? Displaced threshold.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99973. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 512 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Phone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Memo for Record - Multiple Witnesses (item 3, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20-%20Multiple%20Witnesses-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476305&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.