# NTSB SEA03LA175: Globe GC-1B, N80978, Cottonwood, ID, August 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2003, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood, ID - Coordinates: 46.038887, -116.332221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0389&lon=-116.3322&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57765/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA175 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors contributing to the accident were the updraft, the terrain drop-off, and the fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - updraft (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis While flaring to land, an updraft caused the airplane to rise and touchdown on the main landing gear somewhat hard. After the aircraft bounced, the pilot initiated a go-around with the carburetor heat on and the flaps in the down position. Full power was added, but the plane mushed and came back down, resulting in the left main landing gear collapsing. The aircraft exited the left side of the runway and down a slight incline before impacting a fence and coming to rest in an adjoining pasture. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2003, approximately 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Globe GC-1B single-engine airplane, N80978, sustained substantial damage after a hard landing at the Cottonwood Municipal Airport (S64), Cottonwood, Idaho. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Orofino Municipal Airport, Orofino, Idaho, at 0910 In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, and according to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that while flaring to land an updraft caused the airplane to rise and touch down on the main landing gear "somewhat hard," causing the aircraft to bounce. The pilot stated that after it bounced he initiated a go-around with the carburetor heat on and the flaps in the down position. The pilot stated that despite adding full power the plane mushed and came back down, resulting in the left main landing gear collapsing. The airplane exited the runway down an incline to the left, impacted a fence, and came to rest upright in the adjoining pasture on the south side of the airstrip. In addition to the damaged left main landing gear, both wings were substantially damaged, and the propeller was damaged due to a propeller strike. . ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80978](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80978), registered now, S/N 1171 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Globe GC-1B - Registry model: [Globe GC-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/globe-gc-1b) (registry code 9230104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C125 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c125-series) (registry code 17011, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1171 - Airframe hours: 887 - Engines: Continental C125 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul E. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2003 - Departed: S68, Orofino, ID - Destination: S84, Cottonwood, ID - Airport: S84, Cottonwood Municipal Airport, runway 25, 3,100 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 27, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,775 total, 6 in this make and model, 1,775 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: LWS, 42 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 20030820019989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030820019989A), Aug 20, 2003: Swftms GC1B, Cottonwood, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) As the pilot approached runway 25 for landing at the Cottonwood Municipal Airport he flared too high. The aircraft came down hard on the main wheels and… 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.