Griffin Sandusky Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sandusky, Ohio 44870
Friday, February 18, 2000 18:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot did not check local winds, but was advised by snow removal personnel that runway 27, a 3,599-foot runway, was being plowed. The pilot executed an IFR approach, and after entering VMC, had "good visibility," but the airplane was too high. The pilot circled to the south to lose altitude, then maneuvered the airplane to land on runway 27. Aware of the ice and snow covering the runway, the pilot elected to continue the approach. The airplane touched down 500 feet from the approach end of the runway with approximately a 20-knot tailwind. Unable to stop, the airplane departed the runway, then impacted a snow bank.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to land on a runway that was covered with ice and snow, without obtaining current wind information. Factors were the 20-knot tailwind and the snow-covered runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/18/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1810
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SANDUSKY
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44870
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412600N
Event Location Longitude 0823908W
Event Location Airport GRIFFIN SANDUSKY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SKY
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 580
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1752 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID TOL
Elevation of weather observation facility 684
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 60
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14348
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 18 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office CLEVELAND

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N87341
NTSB Number NYC00LA083
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 310R-0520
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 5 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 8094
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROYAL AIR FREIGHT, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2141 AIRPORT RD
Aircraft Owner City WATERFORD
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48327
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PTK
Departure City PONTIAC
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SKY
Destination City SANDUSKY
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 19 2003 3:11PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3559
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --