MIA99LA235

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172P · Hampton, GA · August 23, 1999

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 23, 1999, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC)
Place
Hampton, GA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N55218Cessna 172P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 2, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990823013379A
Case key
47218

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

Was the failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control after touchdown following a bounced landing, resulting in the on-ground collision with a taxiway sign and the separation of the right main landing gear.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - airport sign/markerFactor
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Main gear collapsedLanding - roll

Analysis

The pilot stated that he flew over the airport and noted that the windsock indicated that the wind was from 150-160 degrees at 10-12 knots. He initially intended on landing on runway 24 but elected to land on runway 06 after hearing another airplane advise that they were using runway 06. He turned onto final approach, performed a 360 degree turn for clearance with a departing airplane, and with the flaps extended 20 degrees, the airplane was landed long and bounced. The pilot further stated that while descending following the bounced landing, he felt the airplane 'shift' to the right. The airplane then touched down, rolled off the right side of the runway, and collided with a taxiway sign which separated the right main landing gear. He estimated that the airplane rolled off the runway 600 feet before coming to rest.

Factual narrative

On August 23, 1999, about 1620 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N55218, registered to Yellow Jacket Flying Club, experienced a loss of control on landing at the Clayton County-Tara Field Airport, Hampton, Georgia. 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 private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1530, from the Fulton County Airport-Brown Field, Atlanta, Georgia.

The pilot stated that when the flight was 5 miles north of the destination airport, he called on the common traffic advisory frequency twice but received no response. He flew over the airport and observed that the wind sock indicated that the wind was from 150-160 degrees at 10-12 knots. He initially planned on landing on runway 24 but elected to enter the traffic pattern for runway 06 after hearing another airplane advise that they were using runway 06. He entered right downwind, base, then final approach, where he performed a 360 degree turn to allow for clearance for a departing airplane. He returned for landing and with the flaps extended 20 degrees, the flight was landed long, and bounced. While descending following the bounced landing, he felt the airplane "shift" to the right. The airplane then touched down and began rolling to the right. He applied left rudder and brakes but the airplane rolled off the right side of the runway and collided with a taxiway sign, which separated the right main landing gear. He estimated that the airplane rolled off the runway 600 feet before coming to rest.

According to FAA personnel, the airplane was landed 2/3 down the 4,503-foot runway, bounced, traveled off the right side of the runway where the right main landing gear collided with a taxiway marker sign. The right main landing gear separated from the airplane and as a result, damaged the right horizontal stabilizer.

Aircraft

Registration
N55218
Reported as
Cessna 172P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17275137
Airframe hours
6,487
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Yellow Jacket Flying Club
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 23, 1999 · 177 hours before
Departed
FTY · Atlanta, GA
Destination
4A7
Airport
4A7 · Clayton County-Tara Field, runway 6, 4,503 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
170 total · 50 in this make and model · 110 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 9 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
FFC, 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.