Morganton-Lenoir Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morganton, North Carolina 28655
Friday, October 22, 1999 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot believed the winds favored runway 21, and believed he was landing on runway 21, when in fact, he landed on runway 3. According to the pilot, he landed with 30 degrees of flaps while applying right rudder to correct for wind drift. The stall warning horn sounded as the main gear touched down. As the tailwheel settled, the tail of the airplane started drifting to the right edge of the runway. His further attempts to gain directional control of the airplane were ineffective. The airplane then ground looped and nosed over. Winds at the airport were reported to be from 330 degrees at 12 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a tailwind which resulted in the loss of control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/22/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MORGANTON
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28655
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MORGANTON-LENOIR
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MRN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1270
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1940 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MRN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1270
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 710
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) 504
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 25 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:58AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3255H
NTSB Number ATL00LA001
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 305C
Aircraft Series Identifier 305C
Aircraft Serial Number 24544
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 4 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 7094
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALLAN E. JOHNSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 985 NEAL AVE NORTH
Aircraft Owner City STILLWATER
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55082
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 IPJ
Departure City LINCOLNTON
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0A9
Destination City ELIZABETHTON
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --