Pilot Debrief

Commander Aircraft Company 114-B near Sandusky, OH — 2011-05-04

Final reportCEN11LA320
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Date
2011-05-04
Location
Sandusky, OH, USA
Airport
KSKY
Aircraft
Commander Aircraft Company 114-B
Registration
N114JG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate directional control while landing in a variable crosswind.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the final approach with a left crosswind was uneventful. He stated that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, slightly right of the runway centerline. The subsequent landing roll was uneventful for approximately 40 to 60 yards, and then the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot's application of right rudder and full right brake were not successful in regaining directional control. The airplane departed the left side of the runway into an area of soft grass and then swerved back onto the runway before coming to rest. A postaccident examination of the main landing gear brake components and nose landing gear steering system did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented their normal operation. The pilot reported that there was a left crosswind of 6 knots during the landing attempt to the east. A nearby weather station reported that, during the hour following the accident, the wind velocity increased from 6 to 12 knots with 17 knot gusts. The same weather reports also indicated that the wind direction changed from a northerly to northwesterly direction during the same time period.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have adjusted approach to maintain better control during landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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