MIA03CA113

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 120 · Plant City, FL · May 27, 2003

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 27, 2003, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
Place
Plant City, FL
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N76494Cessna 120
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 30, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20030527015269A
Case key
57132

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 failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane resulting in it nosing over during the landing roll.

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.

Nose overLanding - roll
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot stated that after takeoff, the flight proceeded to the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport where he landed uneventfully, secured the airplane, and purchased fuel. The flight departed approximately 1200 to return, and entered the traffic pattern for runway 28, with a wind from 340 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 12 knots. While on final approach he slipped the airplane to lose altitude, and touched down 600-700 feet down the runway at 42 to 44 knots. The airplane became airborne, the right wing raised, and the airplane drifted to the left. He applied right aileron and left rudder input to maintain runway centerline, added slight power, and released slight amount of back pressure on the yoke. The airplane touched down again on the main landing gears about 400 feet beyond the first touchdown point and rolled approximately 50-100 feet at which time the airplane nosed over. He further stated there was no problem with the brakes or flight controls of the airplane.

Factual narrative

On May 27, 2003, about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 120, N76494, registered to a private individual, nosed over during the landing roll at Plant City Municipal Airport, Plant City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 1110, from Plant City Municipal Airport.

The pilot stated that after takeoff, the flight proceeded to the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport where he landed uneventfully, secured the airplane, and purchased fuel. The flight departed approximately 1200 to return, and entered the traffic pattern for runway 28, with a wind from 340 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 12 knots. While on final approach he slipped the airplane to lose altitude, and touched down 600-700 feet down the runway at 42 to 44 knots. The airplane became airborne, the right wing raised, and the airplane drifted to the left. He applied right aileron and left rudder input to maintain runway centerline, added slight power, and released slight amount of back pressure on the yoke. The airplane touched down again on the main landing gears about 400 feet beyond the first touchdown point and rolled approximately 50-100 feet at which time the airplane nosed over. He further stated there was no problem with the brakes or flight controls of the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N76494
Reported as
Cessna 120
Category
Airplane
Serial number
10926
Engine
Continental 85-12F, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Tony Koncak
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
KZPH · Zephyrhills, FL
Destination
KPCM · Plant City, FL
Airport
KPCM · Plant City Municipal Airport, runway 28

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
Minor
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
2,785 total · 28 in this make and model · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
3 knots
Observed at
KLAL

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.