- Date
- January 16, 1997, 22:25 local (Jan 17, 1997, 03:25 UTC)
- Place
- Bridgeport, CT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1761GCessna 310F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report October 30, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970116019889A
- Case key
- 28173
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Related factors were: the pilot's misunderstanding of the wind conditions, and the resultant quartering tail wind.
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
On a night cross-country flight, the pilot accepted a visual approach to his destination. He requested information for the active runway, but was told the tower was closed. The controller stated that the last reported wind was, '0154 Zulu, two eight zero at one two gusts at one seven.' The pilot reported that he misunderstood the controller and thought the 'wind was 010 degrees at 29 knots.' The pilot landed on runway 6, and stated that 'shortly after touch down, a strong quarterly tailwind pushed the aircraft off (the right side) of the runway.' Before stopping, the airplane struck the VASI at the approach end of runway 24. The wind was recorded as 290 degrees at 21 knots with gusts to 28 knots.
Factual narrative
On January 16, 1997, at 2225 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310F, N1761G, was substantially damaged when it collided with the Visual Approach Slope Indicator System (VASI) on landing rollout at the Sikorsky Memorial Airport, Bridgeport, Connecticut. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to Duncan Air Service and operated by Flint Aviation Services, Inc., located at the Bishop International Airport, Flint, Michigan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot received a weather briefing from Lansing Flight Service Station and departed Bishop International Airport, about 2000. In the local Bridgeport area, the pilot accepted a visual approach and requested information for the active runway at Sikorsky Memorial Airport. The Air Traffic Controller responded, "they (tower) are closed, I don't know what the active is. The last reported wind at 0154 Zulu, two eight zero at one two gusts at one seven." The pilot acknowledged the controller and switched to the airport's unicom frequency.
The pilot reported that he miss heard the controller and thought the "wind was 010 degrees at 29 knots." The pilot landed on runway 06 (4,677 feet long/150 feet wide) and stated, "shortly after touch down, a strong quarterly tailwind pushed the aircraft off (the right side) of the runway." Before stopping, the airplane struck the VASI at the approach end of runway 24. Afterwards, the pilot taxied the airplane to the tie down area. A review of the Sikorsky Memorial Airport Aviation Routine Weather Report indicated the wind was 290 degrees at 21 knots with gusts to 28 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1761G
- Reported as
- Cessna 310F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 310R1223
- Airframe hours
- 5,888
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-M, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flint Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 16, 1996 · 87 hours before
- Departed
- FNT · Flint, MI
- Destination
- BDR
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BDR · Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem, runway 6, 4,677 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,502 total · 84 in this make and model · 1,389 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 107 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 290° at 21 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BDR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.