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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

May 6, 2013 · Cirrus Design SR20 · N161KT

Staples, MN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 6, 2013
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Staples, MN
Aircraft
Cirrus Design SR20
Tail Number
N161KT
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN13LA261

The pilot stated that the landing approach to the hard surface runway was uneventful until the landing flare, when the airplane pitch descended below a normal flare attitude. The pilot reported that the nose landing gear “firmly” struck the runway before the main landing gear, which resulted in a bounced landing. The pilot stated that the airplane bounced a second time before he selected takeoff power and retracted the flaps to 50 percent in an attempt to abort the landing; however, the airplane did not achieve takeoff speed and subsequently departed the end of the runway and impacted a runway edge identifier light. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C

Full Narrative

On May 6, 2013, at 1140 central daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corporation model SR20 airplane, N161KT, was substantially damaged while landing at Staples Municipal Airport (KSAZ), Staples, Minnesota. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed KSAZ about 1110. The pilot reported that after a short local area flight he returned to the departure airport for a full stop landing. He stated that the landing approach to runway 32 (3,305 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) was uneventful until the landing flare when the airplane pitch descended below a normal flare attitude. The pilot reported the nose landing gear “firmly” struck the runway before the main landing gear, which resulted in a bounced landing. The pilot stated that the airplane bounced a second time before he selected takeoff power and retracted the wing flaps to 50-percent for an aborted landing; however, the airplane did not achieve takeoff speed and subsequently departed the end of the runway. The airplane impacted a runway edge identifier light during the runway excursion. The fuselage and empennage sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by inspectors with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after it had been recovered from the accident site. The observed damage to the lower fuselage and empennage was consistent with damage sustained during a tail strike and impact with the damaged runway edge identifier light. Both propeller blade tips were curled, consistent with a propeller ground strike during the accident sequence. The postaccident examination did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or malfunctions that would have prevented normal airplane operation. At 1133, the KSAZ automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind calm, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 16 degrees Celsius, dew point 7 degrees Celsius, altimeter setting 30.11 inches of mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:40 CDT
Nearest AirportStaples Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length3305 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCirrus Design SR20
Tail NumberN161KT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTeledyne Continental · IO-360-ES · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time16:33
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data