MIA02LA035

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 175A · Fairhope, AL · November 20, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 20, 2001, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
Place
Fairhope, AL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7095ECessna 175A
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 20, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20011120037719A
Case key
53821

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to check wind conditions prior to landing resulting in a landing with a tailwind, on a wet runway, and damage to the airplane during a ground loop in an attempt to stop the airplane before over running the runway.

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.

Gear collapsedLanding - roll
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet
Weather condition - tailwind
Wind information - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - intentionalPilot in command
Landing gear,main gear - overload

Analysis

The pilot stated he departed Fairhope with a planned destination of Monroeville, Alabama. The winds were calm during departure and he took off to the south. After flying about 5 miles toward the destination, the weather became bad and he elected to return to the departure airport. He approached to land to the south and during approach wind gust from the north increased his touchdown speed. The runway was also wet do to recent rain showers and he had poor braking action. About midway down the runway he realized the airplane was not stopping and he did not have enough runway to abort the landing. He saw cars driving on the highway at the end of the runway. When he reached the end of the runway, he applied full left rudder and full engine power, in an attempt to ground loop the airplane. The airplane turned 90 degrees to the left and slid sideways. The airplane slid into a ditch and the right main gear collapsed. The airplane came to a stop with the right wing hanging over the highway.

Factual narrative

On November 20, 2001, about 0800 central standard time, a Cessna 175A, N7095E, registered to an individual, collapsed the right main landing gear and damaged the right wing while stopping the airplane after a run on landing at Klumpp Field, Fairhope, Alabama, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Fairhope, the same day, about 0750.

The pilot stated he departed Fairhope with a planned destination of Monroeville, Alabama. The winds were calm during departure and he took off to the south. After flying about 5 miles toward the destination, the weather became bad and he elected to return to the departure airport. He approached to land to the south and during approach wind gust from the north increased his touchdown speed. The runway was also wet due to recent rain showers and he had poor braking action. About midway down the runway he realized the airplane was not stopping and he did not have enough runway to abort the landing. He saw cars driving on the highway at the end of the runway. When he reached the end of the runway, he applied full left rudder and full engine power, in an attempt to ground loop the airplane. The airplane turned 90 degrees to the left and slid sideways. The airplane slid into a ditch and the right main gear collapsed. The airplane came to a stop with the right wing hanging over the highway.

Aircraft

Registration
N7095E
Reported as
Cessna 175A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
56595
Airframe hours
2,422
Engine
Continental GO-300-C, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Dwane F. Lawrence
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 4, 2001 · 55 hours before
Departed
AL78 · Fairhope, AL
Destination
AL78 · Fairhope, AL
Airport
AL78 · Klumpp Field, runway 18, 2,200 × 200 ft, grass/turf

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
64
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
July 22, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
464 total · 127 in this make and model · 417 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 4 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
30.06 inHg
Observed at
BFM, 12 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.