# NTSB NYC94LA177: Cessna 195 B, N3091B, Richmond, VA, September 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 1994, 14:22 local (18:22 UTC) - Place: Richmond, VA - Coordinates: 37.440475, -77.320022 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4405&lon=-77.3200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38831 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38831/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA177 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a ground loop. Contributing factors are excessive airspeed, fatigue, and improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - collapsed - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT REPORTED: ' . . . I DID NOT RECOGNIZE MY LEVEL OF FATIGUE FROM A DIFFICULT AND LONG FLIGHT. AFTER BEGINNING THE APPROACH . . . I FOUND MYSELF SLIGHTLY LOW ON FINAL. WITH THE ADDITION OF POWER TO SLOW THE DESCENT, MY FINAL APPROACH SPEED WAS HIGHER THAN NEEDED. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS FAST, AND THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED. I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED . . . ' ## Factual narrative On September 10, 1994, at 1422 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 195, N3091B, operated by Elizabeth A. Copland-Leckey, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, ground looped while landing at Richmond Airport, Richmond, Virginia. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the flight was operated on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported the flight originated in Ann Arbor, with a fuel stop in Zanesville, Ohio. Upon arrival at Richmond, she was cleared for a visual approach to runway 2. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: ...I did not recognize my level of fatigue from a difficult and long flight. After beginning the approach...I found myself slightly low on final. With the addition of power to slow the descent, my final approach speed was higher than needed. The touchdown was fast, and the airplane bounced. I was unable to maintain direction control and the airplane groundlooped.... The pilot reported the winds as light and variable. The airplane was examined by FAA Airworthiness Inspector Bob Culberson, from the Richmond Flight Standards District Office. He reported the left wing was bent up about 4 feet from the tip and the left landing gear was ripped out and folded under the fuselage. In addition there were wrinkles on the left side of the fuselage. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an instrument rating. She reported her total time as 725 hours and 25 hours flown in the preceding 90 days. She reported her total time in the Cessna 195 as 60 hours, with 12 hours in the preceding 90 days, and 4 1/2 hours on the day of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3091B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3091B), registered now, S/N 7976, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 195 B - Registry model: [Cessna 195B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-195b) (registry code 2073112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R755B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755b-series) (registry code 35007, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7976 - Airframe hours: 3133 - Engines: JACOBS R-775B-2 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Elizabeth A. Copland-Leckey - Registered owner: Donald A. Leckey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 1994, 65 hours before - Departed: ZZV, ZANESVILLE, OH - Destination: RIC, RI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: RIC, Richmond, runway 2, 5,653 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 725 total, 70 in this make and model, 725 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19940910048419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940910048419A), Sep 10, 1994: Cessna 195B, Richmond, VA, Substantial damage. Bounced and ground looped on landing. Collapsed left main gear. Bent wing. Pilot reported fatigue a factor. ## Other investigations on N3091B (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 MKC83LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83LA037), Dec 8, 1982: Cessna 195B (N3091B), Lewellen, NE, 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.