Crosbyton Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crosbyton, Texas 79322
Friday, January 28, 2005 17:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A twin-engine airplane made a hard landing followed by a loss of control while attempting to land. The 830-hour private pilot lost control of the twin-engine airplane while attempting to land following a cabin door opening just after take-off. After the door opened, the pilot elected to land and secure the door; however, the pilot could not achieve a safe landing gear indication. The pilot then elected to fly to his home field where additional help would be available. After becoming fatigued while holding the cabin door closed, the pilot declared an emergency and received vectors to the nearest runway. On short final, the pilot let go of the door and the airplane banked to the right, striking the runway with the right wing. The airplane then landed hard collapsing the gear.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, and his inadequate flare which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention to the open cabin door.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/28/2005
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Crosbyton
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79322
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333726N
Event Location Longitude 1011427W
Event Location Airport Crosbyton Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8F3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3018
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1743 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID KLBB
Elevation of weather observation facility 3282
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
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) 17431
NTSB Notification Source Lubbock FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jan 31 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2110
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2005 6:20AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office lubbock

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3138L
NTSB Number DFW05CA062
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310-J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 310J0138
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dr. Kenneth M. Rice
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3502 9th Street suite 170
Aircraft Owner City Lubbock
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79415
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Dr. Kenneth Michael Rice
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3502 9th Street Suite 170
Operator City Lubbock
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 22F
Departure City Jayton
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LBB
Destination City Lubbock
Destination State TX
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 35
Runway Length 3600
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --