# NTSB MIA03LA101: Cessna 177-RG, N8015G, Clearwater, FL, April 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2003, 12:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: Clearwater, FL - Coordinates: 27.910554, -82.687225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9106&lon=-82.6872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Tampa FSDO-35 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56906/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA101 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll resulting in the failure and separation of the right main landing gear, partial collapse of the nose landing gear, and substantial damage to the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,main gear strut - overload - landing gear,main gear strut - separation - landing gear,nose gear - bent ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the landing roll, approximately 100 to 200 feet down the runway, the nose suddenly dropped. He applied back-pressure to the yoke, began braking and intentionally steered towards the grass on the left side of the runway where the right main gear separated. He further stated that he might have used "too much left rudder." The passenger seated in the right front seat stated that during the rollout, the right wing tipped and saw the pilot was "very busy with the yoke." The airplane was going left towards the grass and started skidding sideways coming to a sudden stop. The FAA inspector that examined the wreckage stated the break in the right landing gear was consistent with a ductile break, a high stress fracture. The surface area of the break did not show any fatigue or markings associated with a fatigue fracture. The pilot's total time in make and model was 7.2 hour at the time of the accident. The Cessna 177RG Owners Manual states, "When landing in a strong crosswind, use the minimum flap setting required for the field length." The winds were 070 at 9 knots and the pilot landed on runway 17L with full flaps. A photo of the accident airplane after the accident show the lower section of right main landing gear missing, the nose gear bent towards the left, and the markings on the runway are consistent with the airplane skidding sideways in a left direction on the left side of the runway center line. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2003, about 1235 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N8015G, registered to and operated by CAMS Flight Inc., partially separated the right landing gear during landing at St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport, Clearwater, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane incurred substantial damage. The instrument rated private pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight had departed from Key West, Florida, earlier that day at about 1055. The pilot stated that the landing and initial rollout were normal with touchdown occurring at about an indicated airspeed of 60 mph using full flaps. Approximately 100 to 200 feet down the runway, the nose suddenly dropped. He applied back pressure to the yoke, began braking, and intentionally steered towards the grass off the left side of the runway. At the left side of the runway, the left wing came up, the nose dropped, right main gear separated, and the propeller struck the runway. He further stated that he might have used "too much left rudder." The passenger seated in the right front seat stated that during the rollout, the right wing tipped and she saw the pilot was "very busy with the yoke." The airplane was going left towards the grass and started skidding sideways coming to a sudden stop. As part of the initial checkout in the accident airplane, the pilot received 1.4 hours of flight familiarization including two landings and 1 hour of ground instruction from a certified flight instructor. At the time of the accident, the pilot had logged 7.2 total hours in the accident airplane make and model. The FAA inspector that examined the wreckage stated the right landing gear broke approximately 8 to 12 inches up the gear strut from the brake caliper and that the break was a ductile break consistent with a high impact stress. The surface area of the break did not show any fatigue or markings associated with a fatigue fracture. The nose gear was partially collapsed as well. The airplane last annual inspection was 40 hours prior to the accident. The Cessna 177RG Owners Manual states, "When landing in a strong crosswind, use the minimum flap setting required for the field length." At the time of the accident, the reported winds were 070 at 9 knots and the pilot was landing runway 17L with full flaps. A photo provided by the operator of the airplane shortly after the accident shows the flaps in a lowered position, the airplane in a perpendicular position to the runway, the lower section of right main landing gear missing, the nose landing gear bent toward the left of the airplane, the nose gear strut in a extended position, and the markings on the runway are consistent with the airplane skidding sideways in a left direction on the left side of the runway center line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8015G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8015G-2006-04-06), registration cancelled 2006-04-06, S/N 177RG0015, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177-RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0015 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: CAMS Flight Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2002, 40 hours before - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL - Destination: PIE, Clearwater, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PIE, St. Petersburg/Clearwater Intl, runway 17L, 8,800 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 13, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,007 total, 7 in this make and model, 960 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KPIE ## 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 20030428015299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030428015299A), Apr 28, 2003: Cessna 177RG, St Petersburg-C, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 28, 2003, at 1235 EST, a Cessna 177RG, N8015G, registered to cams flight inc., broke the right landing gear and the nose landing gear upon… ## Other investigations on N8015G (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW74DQG34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74DQG34), Nov 24, 1973: Cessna 177RG (N8015G), Lehman, TX, substantial damage 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.