Duluth International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Duluth, Minnesota 55811
Sunday, October 28, 2007 11:24 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was performing a crosswind landing during a local flight. While on final approach to runway 27 the airplane reportedly encountered "significant southerly winds and gusts." The pilot stated that just prior to touchdown his "landing control suddenly deteriorated" and he attempted to level the airplane before impacting the runway. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane during the impact, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall. A weather observation, completed 6 minutes after the accident, indicated that the wind was from 210 degrees at 11 knots. Another observation, completed 31 minutes after the accident, indicated that the wind was from 190 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had used runway 21, which would have reduced the crosswind component during landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the landing approach. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind weather condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/28/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1124
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Duluth
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55811
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 465032N
Event Location Longitude 0921137W
Event Location Airport Duluth International Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DLH
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 1428
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1130 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DLH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1428
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.46
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) 22888
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 1 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4366R
NTSB Number CHI08CA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17263117
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6058.6
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Monaco Air Duluth, LLC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4535 Airport Approach Road
Aircraft Owner City Duluth
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55811
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DLH
Departure City Duluth
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code DLH
Destination City Duluth
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 3 2008 6:01PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 10152
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --