Cessna 340A N200GC

Summary

On 24 November 2003 at about 14:00 local time, a Cessna 340A registered N200GC was involved in an accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 November 2003 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Poplar Bluff Municipal (POF)

Coordinates

36.7739, -90.3247

Aircraft

Cessna 340A

Registration

N200GC

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jefferson City → Poplar Bluff

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA038

Nobody was injured.

Failure to maintain directional control during landing. Collapse of the nose landing gear, the muddy grass/turf and the berm were contributing factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The twin-engine airplane was substantially damaged when it departed runway 36 during landing. The nose landing gear collapsed when the aircraft encountered soft, muddy turf adjacent to the runway and subsequently impacted a berm. The pilot reported that everything was normal throughout the flight until short final, just prior to touchdown. He stated that winds were from 320 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported that when he attempted to align the nose of the aircraft with the runway for touchdown, he had no right rudder control. He stated: "I observed that the right rudder pedal was fully deflected to the right. I tried to get it loose or back to the normal position with my foot to no avail." After touchdown the aircraft "veered" to the left. Attempts to correct to the right were unsuccessful. The pilot noted, "I tried using differential power to maintain runway alignment but was unable. At this point, I reduced power back to the stops/idle, trying to maneuver the aircraft the best I could. During this time I had no right rudder control. Once the aircraft [came] to a complete stop, it was shut down." Post-accident inspection confirmed rudder control continuity and brake system integrity. Full rudder travel, without restriction or binding, was observed. Rudder pedal inputs produced a proper, corresponding rudder movement. No anomalies with the nose wheel steering system which could be attributed to a pre-impact malfunction, were observed. The brake system appeared to be intact and to operate normally.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.