Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Valdosta, Georgia 31602
Friday, September 10, 1993 15:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE AT 7500 FEET, THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID FLYING INTO CLOUDS. AS HE MANEUVERED HE ENTERED AN AREA OF SEVERE TURBULENCE WHERE THE AIRPLANE LOST ABOUT 4000 FEET. THE PILOT RECALLED HEARING THE AIRFRAME POP AND FELT THE AIRFRAME TWIST. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT NOTICED SOME DEFORMATION TO THE WING ASSEMBLY AND AIRFRAME. AFTER DETERMINING THE DAMAGE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. UPON ARRIVING, THE PILOT DISCOVERED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND. AN OFF RUNWAY EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A GRASSY AREA PARALLEL TO THE SOUTHWEST RUNWAY. DURING A SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION WITH THE PILOT, HE REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED THE AREA OF TURBULENCE ABOUT ONE MILE FROM A CLOUD BUILD UP; VISUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED BELOW THE BROKEN CLOUD LAYERS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE EVALUATION OF INFLIGHT WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE AND SUBSEQUENT OVERSTRESS OF THE AIRFRAME.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City VALDOSTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31602
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 15
Weather Observation Facility ID VLD
Elevation of weather observation facility 204
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 200
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1580
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 10 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2074Q
NTSB Number ATL93LA154
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 177RG
Aircraft Series Identifier 177RG
Aircraft Serial Number 177RG000474
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 24 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 6100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MANNING, DAVID L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 904 NEEDLE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City FOREST PARK
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30050
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 4A7
Departure City HAMPTON
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code COI
Destination City COCOA BEACH
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --