Jackson County - Reynolds Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jackson, Michigan 49201
Friday, February 27, 2004 14:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with a snow bank following a loss of directional control while landing. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that upon landing the left main landing gear tire blew out and the airplane veered to the left. He reported the landing was not hard and it did not feel as if the student had the brakes locked on touchdown. He stated he and the student pilot used right rudder in an attempt to keep the airplane on the runway, but it continued off the left side of the runway. The nose gear contacted a snow bank that was approximately 10 feet off the side of the runway, collapsing the nose gear. During a telephone interview the CFI stated the airplane did not veer sharply, but rather it was gradual in an approximate 30 degree angle from the runway heading. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the left tire was blown and there was a flat spot on the tire.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The left main tire failed which resulted in the CFI's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing. A factor associated with the accident was the snow bank which the airplane contacted.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/27/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Jackson
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49201
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 421535N
Event Location Longitude 0842734W
Event Location Airport Jackson County - Reynolds
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JXN
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 1001
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID JXN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1001
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.41
Density Altitude (feet) -361
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17273
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 27 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1407
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 24 2005 9:13AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Detroit, MI FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1203J
NTSB Number CHI04LA081
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aero Commander
Aircraft Model 112
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 203
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 21 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours 3751
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lance W. Cuffle
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Jackson
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49201
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MOP
Departure City Mount Pleasant
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code JXN
Destination City Jackson
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 5344
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --