Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA05LA027

Opa Locka, FL, USA

Aircraft #1

N9059A

Cessna 170A

Analysis

The pilot stated that during the landing rollout on runway 9L, the airplane weather vaned to the right. He said he applied left rudder and left braking inputs to correct for the weather vaning, but the left main landing gear separated. The left wing and the propeller impacted the runway, and the airplane pivoted to the left, coming to an abrupt stop. According to the Opa Locka Air traffic controller, the airplane was cleared to land on runway 9L, and upon touchdown the left side of the airplane collapsed and the airplane veered to the left. On November 11 and 12, 2004, an FAA inspector conducted postcrash examinations of the accident airplane, and according to the inspector, the airplane exhibited signatures consistent with the pilot having made a hard landing. The inspector further stated that there was no evidence of fatigue to any of the landing gear fracture surfaces, and that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane or its systems.

Factual Information

On November 12, 2004, about 1250 eastern standard time, a Cessna 170A airplane, N9059A, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, incurred damage during the landing rollout at Opa Locka Airport, Opa Locka, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated at Opa Locka Airport, the same day, about 1050. According to the pilot, while landing on runway 9L, during the landing rollout, the airplane weather vaned to the right. He said he applied left rudder and left braking inputs to correct for the weather vaning, but the left main landing gear separated. The left wing and the propeller impacted the runway, and the airplane pivoted to the left, coming to an abrupt stop. The NTSB did not receive a completed NTSB Form 6120, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report from the pilot. According to the Opa Locka Air traffic control tower controller, the airplane was cleared to land on runway 9L, and upon touchdown the left side of the airplane collapses and the airplane veered to the left. On November 11 and 12, 2004, an FAA inspector conducted postcrash examinations of the accident airplane, and according to the inspector, the airplane exhibited signatures consistent with the pilot having made an hard landing. The inspector further stated that there was no evidence of fatigue to any of the landing gear fracture surfaces, and that no preaccident anomalies were noted to exist with the airplane or its systems.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's improper landing flare/touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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