Cessna 501 accident near Franklin, NC
On March 15, 2012, a Cessna 501 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Franklin, NC. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 15, 2012
- Place
- Franklin, NC
- Aircraft
- Cessna 501 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 5 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.221°N, 83.426°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120315X52136
Official records · ERA12FA225
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Data: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 15, 2012, about 1350 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 501, N7700T, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged while landing at Macon County Airport (1A5), Franklin, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed from Venice Municipal Airport (VNC), Venice, Florida, about 1150. Review of radar and communication data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at 1340, the airplane was at 7,300 feet, when an Atlanta Center controller approved a frequency change to the local airport common traffic advisory frequency. The pilot acknowledged the frequency change and no further communication was received by Atlanta Center. Two witnesses, one of which was a pilot, worked for a fixed-based-operator (FBO) at 1A5 and were standing on the ramp area at the time of the accident. They reported that the airplane approached runway 25, a 5,001-foot long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane was high during the approach, performed a go-around, and made a left turn for another approach. During the second approach, the airplane was high again and the approach angle steepened, nose-down toward the runway. The nosegear touched down approximately half-way down the runway, followed by main gear touchdown. The airplane then bounced and the witnesses heard the engine noise i
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to achieve a stabilized approach, resulting in a nose-first, bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's activation of only one thrust reverser, resulting in asymmetrical thrust.
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Browse: North Carolina · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
