N5439

Substantial
None

Grumman Schweizer G-164AS/N: 1158

Summary

On July 21, 2011, a Grumman Schweizer G-164A (N5439) was involved in an incident near North English, IA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.

The pilot stated that he was attempting a landing into the sun with agricultural chemical on the windshield. He said that a sudden air burst pushed the airplane down, which resulted in a hard landing. The airplane then bounced and impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Weather reports for the area did not indicate the presence of weather that would have resulted in an air burst.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA497. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5439.

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, July 21, 2011
NTSB Number
CEN11CA497
Location
North English, IA
Event ID
20110722X51859
Coordinates
41.493331, -92.148056
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

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

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
GRUMMAN SCHWEIZER
Serial Number
1158
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1973
Model / ICAO
G-164AG64T
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
VARDAMAN CHUCK L
Address
12556 FM 902
Status
Deregistered
City
DORCHESTER
State / Zip Code
TX 75459-2422
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot stated that he was attempting a landing into the sun with agricultural chemical on the windshield. He said that a sudden air burst pushed the airplane down, which resulted in a hard landing. The airplane then bounced and impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Weather reports for the area did not indicate the presence of weather that would have resulted in an air burst.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA497