Ohio University Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Athens, Ohio 45710
Saturday, May 21, 2011 15:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he flew a stable approach and as he flared the airplane, a wind gust raised the nose and slowed the airplane. He added engine power, but the airplane descended and impacted the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded off the right side of the runway resulting in a collapsed nose gear and a propeller strike. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies, and substantial damage was noted to the firewall and fuselage. Witnesses reported that the airplane was on a high, steep, and fast approach before the landing flare and touchdown occurred near mid-field. The airplane appeared to "balloon" during the flare and stall prior to impact with the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed in the flare which resulted in a stall and a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Athens
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45710
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 391242N
Event Location Longitude 0821345W
Event Location Airport Ohio University Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UNI
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1530 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID UNI
Elevation of weather observation facility 766
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4600
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 7
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28599
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 16 2011 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4016X
NTSB Number CEN11LA352
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 AERO COMMANDER
Aircraft Model 100-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 5148
Certified Max Gross Weight 2475
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2169
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name ALDER WILLIAM D III
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City ATHENS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45701-9442
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ALDER WILLIAM D III
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address On File
Operator City ATHENS
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 45701-9442
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code I86
Departure City New Lexington
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code UNI
Destination City Athens
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 13 2011 1:23PM
User who most recently changed record silj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 5600
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --