# NTSB MIA99LA101: Cessna 177, N2890X, Lantana, FL, March 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 1999, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Lantana, FL - Coordinates: 26.580232, -80.070259 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5802&lon=-80.0703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45870 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45870/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA101 ## Probable cause the pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a hard landing, and subsequent impact with the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot was practicing landings on runway 15, and was on his fourth takeoff. He said, '...on the downwind I went to push the control forward and it would not go.' He attempt an approach to runway 15, but on final he was too high and decided to go around and try another approach. The pilot said, '...I was on final I was at 400 [feet] agl, and cut the power back to idle and hit the runway about 100 mph. The plane went end to end several times and hit the runway several times...I ended up on the east side of the grass.' The pilot taxied the airplane to the parking area and noted that the airplane was damaged. Examination of the wreckage revealed a stop drilled crack in the tail cone fairing assembly adjacent to the elevator that appeared to interfere with the travel of the flight control surface. Further examination revealed that the tail cone had sustained impact damage in the area of the stop drill crack. According to the FAA inspector the impact damage caused the interference with the travel of the flight control, and that the crush occurred after the pilot had made a hard landing, causing the damage. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 1999, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177, N2890X, registered to a private individual, crashed during landing at Lantana Airport, Lantana, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed the Lantana Airport about 1330. According to the pilot he was practicing landings on runway 15, and was on his fourth takeoff. He said, "...on the downwind I went to push the control forward and it would not go." He attempted an approach to runway 15, but on final he was too high and decided to go around and try another approach. The pilot said, "...I was on final I was at 400 [feet] agl, and cut the power back to idle and hit the runway about 100 mph. The plane went end to end several times and hit the runway several times...I ended up on the east side of the grass." The pilot taxied the airplane to the parking area and noted that the airplane was damaged. According to the FAA inspector's statement, the pilot explained that "the control yoke jammed upon performing a flare out during the landing phase of flight." The FAA inspector examined the wreckage, and observed a "stop drilled crack" in the tail cone fairing assembly adjacent to the elevator that "appeared to interfere with the travel of the flight control surface." Further examination revealed that the tail cone had sustained impact damage in the area of the stop drill crack. According to the FAA inspector the impact damage caused the interference with the travel of the flight control. He told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the crush occurred after the pilot had made a hard landing, causing the damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2890X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2890X-2017-02-17), registration cancelled 2017-02-17, S/N 17700290, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700290 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: William K. Gilday - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: LNA, Palm Beach County Park, runway 15, 3,421 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 62 total, 31 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FLL, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990306035879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990306035879A), Mar 6, 1999: Cessna 177, West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. (.19) On March 6, 1999, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177, N2890X, registered to a private individual, crashed during landing at lantana airport,… ## Other investigations on N2890X (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 ATL01LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA054), May 14, 2001: Cessna 177 (N2890X), Zephyrhills, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOTS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT PLAN FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT THAT RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. 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.