Fitch H Beach Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Charlotte, Michigan 48813
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 4:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing and subsequent runway excursion. The pilot reported that winds at the intended destination were from 100 degrees, gusting to 15 knots. He setup for landing on runway 2 and noted that the approach was "normal." The pilot stated: "At approximately 1 foot above the runway I experienced a strong gust which caused the aircraft to hit hard onto the runway. At that time the aircraft began to porpoise. I then added power. Apparently the nose wheel sustained damage which caused the aircraft to veer off to the left of the runway." The nose and left main landing gear subsequently collapsed. The pilot noted that there were no malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, inadequate landing flare, failure to maintain directional control, and encounter with a pilot-induced oscillation (porpoise. A contributing factor was the wind gust.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/2007
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 400
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Charlotte
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48813
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 423428N
Event Location Longitude 0844841W
Event Location Airport Fitch H Beach Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FPK
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 345 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID FPK
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KFPK 110754Z AUTO 08011G15KT 10SM BKN100 02/M04 A2
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) 21573
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 11 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Grand Rapids FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N77RE
NTSB Number CHI07CA100
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 210N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21063241
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3988
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name St Charles Flying Service Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hurst
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SGF
Departure City Springfield
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 30
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Charlotte
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2007 5:06PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 2
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --