Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL03LA044

Hendersonville, NC, USA

Aircraft #1

N80355

Cessna 172

Analysis

According to the pilot, on final approach to runway 14 the airplane encountered crosswinds gusting up to 16 knots. During the landing flare the winds shifted to a quartering tailwind. The pilot elected to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the right main gear collided with a power line. The airplane nosed over, and impacted an airport hangar. The airplane descended and impacted the ground. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilot prior to impact.

Factual Information

On February 11, 2003, at 1420 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N80355 registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with an airport hanger while attempting a go-around at Hendersonville Airport, Hendersonville, North Carolina. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the Hendersonville Airport on February 11, 2003 at 1320. According to the pilot, on final to runway 14 the airplane encountered varying crosswinds gusting up to 16 knots. During landing flare the winds shifted to a quartering tailwind. The crosswinds caused the airplane to drift to the left toward a row of "T" hangars. The pilot applied 40 degrees of flaps 50 feet from the runway. The airplane floated down the runway with a slight loss in attitude. The pilot elected to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the right main gear collided with a power line adjacent to the "T" hangars. The airplane nosed over, and collided with an airport hanger. The airplane fell and collided with the ground approximately 40 feet east of the "T" hangers. The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville, North Carolina. It is located 9 nautical miles northwest of the Hendersonville Airport. The 1420 surface weather observation was: clear, visibility 10 miles, temperature 50 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 50 degrees Fahrenheit, wind 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 16 knots, and altimeter 29.95 inches of mercury. Examination of the wreckage site revealed the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed, both wings were bent back aft towards the fuselage. The engine mounts were buckled and the firewall displayed crush damage. The fuselage of the airplane revealed crush damage. The horizontal and vertical stabilizer displayed crush damage. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilot.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and clearence from power lines during a go-around, resulting in an in-flight collision with a powerline.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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