WESTMINSTER, MD, USA
N35082
Cessna 177RG
The pilot stated that he had just taken off to the north to practice landings on the 5000-foot long and 100-foot wide runway. The traffic pattern was normal with a normal landing. As the airplane was rolling on the runway, he applied power for a touch-and-go. The airplane veered left causing the right wing to raise. The pilot stated that in order to stabilize the airplane, it was necessary to roll off the runway onto the grass. The pilot wrote that 'once on the grass, running parallel to the runway, control of steering and braking was diminished and insufficient to avoid the taxi-way marker (2000 feet remaining runway marker) which was struck by the left side of the stabilator, causing the damage. The certificated flight instructor passenger commented that he was looking out his window and not paying attention. The winds in the local area were recorded from the west southwest at approximately 10 knots.
On May 19, 1996, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N35082, sustained substantial damage when during landing rollout the airplane departed the runway and struck a distance remaining marker at Carroll County Regional Airport in Westminster, Maryland. The private pilot and a certificated flight instructor rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Westminster, Maryland, at approximately 1520 eastern daylight time. This accident was not reported until June 11th , 1996. It was discovered by a FAA inspector dispatched to look at another airplane. While walking through the hangar, the inspector noticed the damaged stabilator and inquired how it occurred. The pilot in command's initial statement did not mention that a passenger was onboard. Further inquiries discovered that the passenger was a certificated flight instructor rated commercial pilot. Once contacted, the certificated flight instructor stated that he was only a passenger and was not performing flight instructor duties. The pilot stated that his original plan was to departed Baltimore Washington International Airport and stop at Clearview Airpark, in Westminster, Maryland to purchase airplane parts and supplies. Then, he was to fly to Carroll County Regional Airport for lunch and practice landings. Clearview Airpark has a runway 1845 feet long and 30 feet wide and is within 10 miles of Carroll County Regional Airport with a runway 5100 feet long and 100 feet wide. The pilot stated that after departing Baltimore Washington International Airport he listened to the Carroll County Automatic Weather Observation System (AWOS). He stated that with the high temperature he determined that his takeoff and landing distances would be marginal at Clearview Airport, so, he changed his plan and went directly to Carroll County Regional and had lunch. After lunch, the pilot stated that he decided to do a few touch and go's before returning to BWI. The pilot stated that he took off from runway 34, flew a normal pattern and touched down normally. On roll out, he stated that he applied power for the touch and go. The pilot stated that the airplane veered to the left causing the right wing to raise. The pilot stated that in order to stabilize the airplane, it was necessary to roll off the runway onto the grass. The pilot went on to state that once on the grass and running parrallel to the runway, control of steering and braking was diminished and insufficient to avoid the taxiway (2000 feet remaining runway) marker which was struck by the left side of the stabilator, causing the damage. The pilot stated that he taxied the airplane to the ramp to inspect the damage and report this to the Fix Base Operator. After locating the certificated flight instructor, he stated that he was looking out his right window and not paying much attention. Although, the CFI was able to recall that the pilot did a perfect touch-down and roll-out, he applied power for the take-off. The CFI stated that the airplane veered to the left causing the right wing to raise. The CFI stated that "as the pilot stabilized the airplane, we rolled off the runway and on to the grass." The CFI continued, "once on the grass and slowly rolling parallel to the runway, control of steering and braking was diminished and insufficient to completely avoid the taxiway marker. As the airplane passed the marker, I was uncertain whether the stabilator passed around or over the marker or if it struck it. I was listening for a sound of impact but was not sure if I heard one. I asked the pilot if he heard anything and he said no. I suggested that he taxi to the ramp to make sure there was no damage."
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. A factor in this accident was the CFI-rated pilot/passenger's inattention.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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