Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Cessna 337G Super Skymaster, N108LS: Accident occurred September 24, 2019 at Northeast Florida Regional Airport (KSGJ), St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida
Continental Motors Inc; Mobile, Alabama

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N108LS

Location: St. Augustine, FL
Accident Number: ERA19LA282
Date & Time: 09/24/2019, 1002 EDT
Registration: N108LS
Aircraft: Cessna 337
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional

On September 24, 2019, about 1002 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 337G, N108LS, registered to and operated by ADS South LLC, impacted the runway shortly after takeoff from Northeast Florida Regional Airport, St. Augustine, Florida. The private and the designated pilot examiner (DPE) sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged as was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional, local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the flight that was originating at the time of the accident.

The DPE reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that after takeoff, the pilot reported out loud that something was wrong with the engines. Rather than continue the flight, the DPE took the controls from the pilot and maneuvered the airplane for landing on-airport. He also reported briefly looking at the engine gauges and did not observe anything unusual.

A witness reported in writing that during takeoff as the airplane cleared the runway, he noticed the airplane "buffeted and took a left hand turn." As it turned sharply to the left the airplane lost altitude and made contact with the runway and slid into the infield area. Two other witnesses reported seeing the airplane veer sharply to the left after takeoff, then observed it impact the infield.

The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N108LS
Model/Series: 337 G
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held:None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SGJ, 10 ft msl
Observation Time: 0956 EDT
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 280°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Unknown
Departure Point: St. Augustine, FL (SGJ)
Destination: St. Augustine, FL (SGJ)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 29.959167, -81.339722



ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida - A man and woman were hurt when a small plane crashed Tuesday morning just off Runway 13 at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the aircraft was trying to take off when its landing gear malfunctioned. The plane veered left, lost altitude, made a crash landing on the runway and veered into the grass.

The pilot and passenger, ages 76 and 73, were taken to Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville for treatment of minor injuries, troopers said.

Aviation expert Ed Booth identified the plane as a Cessna 337G Super Skymaster.

"Looks like one of the main gear became unlocked and folded up," Booth said. "The plane has a troublesome main landing gear that has to swivel before it folds to the rear."

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and expected to release more information throughout the day.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.news4jax.com




A plane overturned with two people inside after a plane crash in St. Augustine on Tuesday morning, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office says.

The wreck happened around 10:00 a.m. at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

The report said a Cessna 337G Super Skymaster was attempting to take off going north from the airport when the landing gear malfunctioned. The plane then began to veer to the left and descend, the report said.

The plane crash-landed on a runway and continued to travel on a grassy area before coming to a stop.

Florida Highway Patrol told First Coast News that one person was able to exit the plane on their own. 

Another person was trapped for a short period of time and had to be assisted by responders in getting out of the aircraft.

Troopers say that the two people only suffered from minor injuries but were taken to a hospital to be evaluated. 

The airport says it's open for business.

Story and video ➤ https://www.firstcoastnews.com

6 comments:

  1. Wrecked but not overturned. Looks like left main gear folded before lift off.

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  2. A common issue with the Cessna 337 several similar cases on record,the links can be prone to not locking and soon as any load is put on the undercarriage they fold.

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  3. I was never a fan of any of the Cessna's rearward retracting (waddling goose) main gear. I spent about ten hours in a 172RG at my USAF base's aero club for a first time private ticket complex checkout. I did not trust that gear either on takeoff roll or landing and was always on alert for a failure at the worst time. Of course my instructor didn't help either with any confidence gaining while explaining his own experience with a rear collapse in a 182RG - fortunately it failed during a high speed turn off taxi braking event. It the friction load is pushing rearward on the gear and the gear retracts rearward, well then you just double down on the odds of a gear collapse failure.

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  4. Agreed, but you gotta admit that rg's fly so much better than fixed! It just kinda sux when landing... take your chances!

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  5. "A look at the past Service Difficulty Reports confirms that landing gear malfunctions and problems continue to top the list of R/RT182 maintenance woes. Out of 73 SDRs submitted between 2000 and 2010, 20 percent had to do with sheared bolts, failed downlock pins, cracked pivot assemblies, stuck doors and the like in the gear system, a figure consistent with the last time we looked.” https://www.avweb.com/features/used-aircraft-guide-cessna-r182-skylane/

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  6. Rear propeller is in the feather position. Gear collapsed on crashing. 2 broken backs. Multi check ride incomplete.

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