- Date
- March 15, 2003, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Honesdale, PA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4896FCessna U206A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Allentown, PA
- FAA report
- 20030315034999A
- Case key
- 56639
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 failure to maintain directional control while landing. A factor was the crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot encountered a strong gust of wind during the landing roll, which pushed the airplane to the right. The right main gear went off the runway, and got stuck in the mud. The airplane then pivoted, and ran into a snow bank. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported from 270 degrees at 10 knots.
Factual narrative
On March 15, 2003, at 1230 eastern standard time, a Cessna U206A, N4896F, was substantially damaged when it collided with a snow bank during the landing roll-out at Cherry Ridge Airport (N30), Honesdale, PA. The certificated private pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that he had encountered a strong gust of wind during the landing roll, which pushed the airplane to the right. The right main gear went off the runway, and got stuck in the mud. The airplane then pivoted, and ran into a snow bank.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the nose gear separated, the propeller was damaged, and the left wing was bent upward.
The pilot reported a total of 523 flight hours, of which 150 hours were in make and model. He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies.
When asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated, "Maintain center line on roll-out."
Weather reported at an airport 23 miles to the southwest, at 1154, included winds from 270 degrees at 10 knots, temperature 46 degrees F, dewpoint 25 degrees F, and barometric pressure setting 30.13 inches Hg. The visibility was 10 statute miles, and the sky was clear.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4896F
- Reported as
- Cessna U206A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U206-0596
- Airframe hours
- 3,418
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-520, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John J Martin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 17, 2002 · 54.6 hours before
- Departed
- N30 · Honesdale, PA
- Destination
- N30
- Airport
- N30 · Cherry Ridge, runway 35, 2,420 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 523 total · 150 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- AVP, 23 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.