# NTSB SEA94LA028: Cessna 320C, N3057T, Spirit Lake, ID, October 30, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 30, 1993, 10:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: Spirit Lake, ID
- Coordinates: 47.980606, -116.889366 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9806&lon=-116.8894&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 13, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41851
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41851/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA028

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT FINAL APPROACH TO THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WAS PERFORMED UNDER NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES. THE PILOT STARTED TO FLARE THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT SUDDENLY DROPPED AND LANDED HARD. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AND VEERED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Factual narrative

On October 30, 1993, at 1010 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 320C, N3057T, landed hard at a private dirt strip near Spirit Lake, Idaho, and collided with a dirt bank.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight had departed from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on October 30, 1993, at 0900 hours.

During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that final approach to the airstrip was performed under normal operating procedures.  The pilot stated that he had just started to flare the airplane when it suddenly dropped and landed hard on the dirt strip.  The airplane travelled approximately 50 feet and veered to the left side of the airstrip, where it collided with a dirt bank.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

The accident was not reported until November 8, 1993.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3057T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3057T-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 320C0057, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320C
- Registry model: [Cessna 320C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320c) (registry code 2074510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSI0-470-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsi0-470-b) (registry code 17029, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 320C0057
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-470D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Chapman, E.L.
- Registered owner: Chapman, E.L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: COE, COEUR D'ALENE, ID
- Airport: Spirit Lake

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,700 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19931030042269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931030042269A), Oct 30, 1993: Cessna 320C, Spirit Lake, ID, Substantial damage. Reported aircraft dropped on flare. Impact was hard. Veered off strip. Struck a dirt bank.

## Other investigations on N3057T (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 FTW93LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA135), Apr 21, 1993: Cessna 320C (N3057T), No. Little Rock, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST. A FACTOR WAS THE POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER

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.

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