Pilot Debrief

CESSNA P210 near Willits, CA — 2017-07-04

Final reportGAA17CA384
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Date
2017-07-04
Location
Willits, CA, USA
Airport
O28
Aircraft
CESSNA P210
Registration
N66NF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to go around after the unstabilized approach.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the airplane reported that, while landing and trying to maintain the runway centerline, the airplane was "blown to the east, presumably by either stronger winds or gusts." He added that he continued to descend while attempting to correct back to the right toward the runway centerline. He further added that he was "fearing a stall" and chose to "put the plane down in the grass and dirt to the left of the runway." Unable to stop the forward momentum with full application of the brakes, the airplane continued over the edge of the embankment and came to rest in the trees. A witness, who was flying another airplane in the pattern, reported that the accident airplane did not touch down until the second half of the landing runway. He added that the airplane was "over the dirt" on the east side of the runway when it touched down and went off the embankment at the end of the runway. He observed the pilot exit the airplane and walk away. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 21 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 150° at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot landed on runway 16.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing earlier due to wind conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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