National Transportation Safety Board - Docket And Docket Items: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Data Summary: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: ERA13LA279
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 11, 2013 in Louisville, KY
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/09/2015
Aircraft: CESSNA 172M, registration: N118JD
Injuries: 4 Serious.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot could not recall any information about the accident except that the airplane had ascended to about 200 ft above ground level. According to Federal Aviation Administration radar data, the airplane had performed three takeoffs and landings, and the accident occurred during the initial climb after the fourth takeoff. The airplane impacted the ground in a right-wing, nose-down attitude about 430 ft from the departure end of the runway. No mechanical abnormalities were noted with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the flaps were set at 30 degrees. According to the Pilot’s Operating Handbook, the flaps should be up for normal and obstacle-clearance takeoffs, and flap settings greater than 10 degrees are not recommended at any time for takeoff. Further, calculations of the airplane’s weight and balance revealed that the airplane was over the maximum allowable takeoff weight by 114 pounds before the airplane’s initial departure. The exact weight at the time of the accident could not be determined; however, it is likely that the airplane was still operating above the maximum allowable weight. Although the airplane had taken off and landed three times while overweight without incident, it is likely that the improper flap setting increased the drag and, in combination with the airplane’s overweight condition, degraded the airplane’s climb performance, which resulted in the airplane experiencing an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to set the correct flap position before takeoff and his inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the operation of the airplane over the maximum allowable gross weight, both of which led to an aerodynamic stall at too low an altitude at which to recover.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On June 11, 2013, about 2230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N118JD, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from Bowman Field (LOU), Louisville, Kentucky. The private pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot was unable to recall any information about the accident; however he did report that the altitude of the occurrence was about "200 feet [above ground level]." Review of radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed the airplane was performing takeoff and landings to runway 33 at LOU. The airplane impacted the ground about 430 feet from the departure end of the runway in a right wing low, nose down attitude.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
According to FAA records, the pilot, age 17, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. The certificate was issued on February 17, 2013. His most recent FAA third-class airman medical certificate was issued on October 30, 2012. According to the pilot's logbook, as of May 19, 2013, the pilot had accumulated 58.2 total hours of flight experience; of which, all of those hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The pilot had accumulated 9.6 hours total night time experience, of which 1.4 hours of night time experience were within the 90 days preceding the accident, including four night takeoff and landings.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The four-seat, high-wing, fixed tricycle-gear airplane, was manufactured in 1975. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150-hp engine. Review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that its most recent annual inspection was completed on March 1, 2013. At the time of inspection, the airplane had accumulated 8,173.5 total hours in service. The engine had accumulated approximately 1,145 total hours of time in service since major overhaul. The most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on May 14, 2013, and had 8,322.77 total hours in service.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
The 2253 recorded weather at LOU, included wind from 160 degrees at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 26 degrees C, dew point 19 degrees C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury.
According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, on the day of the accident, official sunset was at 2106, the end of civil twilight was at 2138, and official moonset was at 2311. The moon phase was waxing crescent with 8 percent of the moon's visible disk would have been illuminated.
AIRPORT INFORMATION
The airport was a publically owned airport and at the time of the accident had an operating control tower that operated between the hours of 0700 and 2200. The airport was equipped with two runways designated as 6/24 and 15/33. The runways were reported as "in fair condition" or "in good condition" at the time of the accident. Runway 6/24 was a 4,326 -foot-long by 75-foot-wide runway and runway 15/33 was a 3,579-foot-long by 75-foot-wide runway. The airport was 546 feet above mean sea level. Both runways were equipped with medium intensity runway lights (MIRL) that were pilot activated over the common traffic advisory frequency. The lights were tested following the accident and stayed on for 15 minutes when activated.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
According to photographs provided by an FAA inspector, after impact the airplane pivoted around the nose before coming to rest upright, nose down, on a golf course. Both propeller blades exhibited chordwise scratching and the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage.
Postaccident examination by an FAA inspector and a representative of the airplane's manufacturer revealed that the flap actuator jackscrew measured about 4 inches, which correlated to a 30 degree flap position. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he did a weight and balance prior to accident flight. When asked if he still had a copy of it, he said he "did it in his head." Calculation of the airplane's weight and balance information revealed that the airplane's total weight was 2414 pounds; the maximum allowable takeoff weight was 2300 pounds.
Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A)
Chapter 8, "Weight and Balance," states in part "Compliance with the weight and balance limits of any airplane is critical to flight safety. Operating an airplane above the maximum weight limitation compromises the structural integrity of the airplane and adversely affects its performance…an overloaded airplane may not be able to leave the ground, or if it does become airborne, it may exhibit unexpected and unusually poor flight characteristics…excessive weight reduces the flight performance of an airplane in almost every respect. The most important performance deficiencies of the overloaded airplane are…higher stalling speed."
Cessna 172M Pilot Operating Handbook
Section 2, "Takeoff" states in part "Wing Flap Settings – Normal and obstacle clearance takeoffs are performed with wing flaps up… Flap settings greater than 10 degrees are not recommended at any time for takeoff…" Also, a review of the "normal take-off" and "maximum performance take-off" stated in part that, the wing flaps setting is zero degrees.
http://registry.faa.govN118JD
NTSB Identification: ERA13LA279
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 11, 2013 in Louisville, KY
Aircraft: CESSNA 172M, registration: N118JD
Injuries: 4 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 11, 2013, about 2225 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N118JD, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from Bowman Field (LOU), Louisville, Kentucky. The private pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot was seriously injured and unable to provide a statement about the accident. Review of radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed the airplane was performing touch-and-go landings to runway 33 at LOU. On the fourth touch-an-go landing, the airplane took off from runway 33, and radar contact was lost at about 200 feet above ground level. The airplane impacted the ground about 430 feet from the departure end of the runway. According to an FAA inspector, the right wing impacted the ground first and the airplane pivoted around the nose before coming to rest upright, nose down, on a golf course. Both propeller blades exhibited chordwise scratching and the inspector noted substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
A fundraiser will be held Saturday to help the four victims of the June 11 plane crash at Seneca Golf Course.
Pilot Cody Goodan and passengers Adam Breitmeyer, Josh Daddona and Josh Trumbo, all of Louisville, were all injured while Goodan was practicing touch and go landings at nearby Bowman Field in a small Cessna plane. The plane crashed at the 18th hole.
Proceeds will go the four boys’ families to help pay medical bills, said organizer Eric Black.
The event will be from 6-11 p.m. at the Mill Creek VFW Post 5421 at 7111 Lower Hunters Trace in southwest Louisville.
Food includes smoked barbecue, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans and ice cream. Games include an inflatable bounce house, horse shoes and corn hole. Entertainment will be provided by live bands, a DJ and karaoke.
Silent auction items and raffle prizes include iPads, flat screen televisions, gift cards, gift baskets and more.
Monetary donations can also be made an any BB&T bank branch to the “Butler Boys” account. All four men were Butler High School graduates.
Anyone willing to donate silent auction items or raffle prizes can also contact Black at (502) 376-0585 or eblack@insightbb.com.
http://www.courier-journal.com
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Four men are still in the hospital after a plane crashed on a golf course Tuesday night.
Family members of the four men say one of the young men had been previously warned by his father not to go up in the small plane. The family of the four man involved in the plane crash say it's a miracle that no one died in the accident. University Hospital says one patient is still in critical condition, with the other three upgraded to serious.
The four young men inside the plane just graduated from Butler Traditional High School last week, according to family members.
The plane is a Cessna Skyhawk tail number N118JD. It was removed from the golf course on Wednesday afternoon.
No official information has been released about the identities of the men on the plane, or on where the plane was headed, and what may have caused the crash. Crews from Louisville Fire & Rescue did contain a fuel leak from the plane after the accident.
A spokesperson for the FAA says based on the circumstance, the pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. FAA officials also say the plane was registered to Cardinal Wings Aviation, a flight school on Bowman Field.
WDRB news was unable to get in touch with Cardinal Wings Aviation, but they did have a photo of a plane matching that tail number listed on their website as a rental.
A family member tells us the pilot had only had his license for nine months.
FAA officials say there are no records indicating that the plane was involved in prior accidents or incidents.
Even after this accident, golf course officials say the golf course will remain open until further notice.
http://www.wdrb.com
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Four men were hospitalized after a small aircraft crashed on Seneca Golf Course late last night near Bowman Field.
The plane went down before 10:30 p.m. on June 11 near the 18th hole of the Seneca Golf Course, which is next to the small airport.
Metro Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley says four men believed to be in their early 20s were trapped inside and had to be pulled out. All were conscious and taken to University Hospital where all of them are listed in critical condition.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane was a Cessna 172 and that preliminary indications are that the plane was practicing takeoffs and landings when the crash happened.
Crews from Louisville Fire & Rescue contained a fuel leak from the plane.
A neighbor, who is a commercial pilot at Bowman Field, says the crash itself didn't wake him -- but all of the commotion and sirens did.
Once James Chaney found out a plane had crashed, he had to come take a look. "It's definitely a concern. It's kind of an eye opener," he said.
Kirk Brown, the Assistant Superintendent at the course, was not aware there had been a crash until he saw our news crews early Thursday.
When he found out what happened, he was amazed the four people inside survived.
"The plane looks destroyed," Brown said. "It looks like someone would pass away in something like this."
Meanwhile, the golf course remains open -- including the 18th hole where the plane went down. It will be a par three instead of a par four.
