# NTSB WPR21LA365: Cessna 175A, N101MB, Salem, OR, September 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 26, 2021, 12:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Salem, OR - Coordinates: 44.969177, -122.89201 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9692&lon=-122.8920&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA365 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104202/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104202 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA365 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare in a tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, he was landing the airplane onto an unimproved dirt field with a tailwind. Prior to touchdown, while in ground effect, the airplane floated. Shortly after, the airplane landed hard, overran the field, and impacted a ditch. Subsequently, the floorboards sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there was no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N101MB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N101MB), registered now, S/N 56537, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175A - Registry model: [Cessna 175A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175a) (registry code 2072504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56537 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 3093.1 - Engines: Continental GO-300 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 2020 - Departed: 77S, Crestwell, OR - Airport: N/A - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 306.3 total, 238.3 in this make and model, 251.2 as pilot in command, 99 in the last 90 days, 35.2 in the last 30 days, 5.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 60 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 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 20210926016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210926016799A), Sep 26, 2021: Cessna 175A, Salem, OR, Substantial damage. Aircraft purposely approached to land on a unimproved farm field. The approach was with a tailwind. Pilot was aware of the tailwind and tried to plan… ## Other investigations on N101MB (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 CHI77FEV17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEV17), Apr 2, 1977: Cessna 175A (N101MB), Quincy, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104202. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13914639&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20365_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13913889&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20365-Rel.pdf 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.