# Accident 20150421006889A: Arion Aircraft LLC LIGHTNING LS-1, West Plains, MO, April 21, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2015, 15:27 local time
- Place: West Plains, MO
- Airport: West Plains Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8844° N, 91.9028° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8844&lon=-91.9028&mi=10
- Aircraft: N332AL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N332AL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Arion LIGHTNING LS-1 (registry code 060006O, https://openairdocs.org/model/arion-lightning-ls-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34801, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARION AIRCRAFT LLC LIGHTNING LS-1
- Reported engine: JABIRU 3300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 285 total, 8 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA052) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150421006889A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED HE LEFT SHELBYVILLE, TN (KSYI)FOR A FLIGHT TO MOUNTAIN VIEW, MO (KMNF). WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE VMC AND WINDS WERE CALM.  HE STATED THAT APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION HE BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER TURBULENCE AND THAT SURFACE WINDS WERE NOW STRONG AND GUSTY FROM THE SOUTH.  HE CONTINUED TO KMNF AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON RUNWAY 28; HOWEVER, WINDS WERE TOO STRONG FROM THE SOUTH, EXCEEDING THE CROSS WIND LIMITATIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT.  HE DIVERTED TO KUNO WHICH HAD A NORTH/SOUTH RUNWAY.  HE SAID THE KUNO AUTOMATED WEATHER REPORTED WINDS FROM THE SOUTH/SOUTHWEST WITH GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS.  ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 18 HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST WHICH CAUSED HIS HEAD TO HIT THE CANOPY OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND ALSO MADE AN IMPRESSION IN THE HEADLINER OF THE AIRCRAFT.   HE CONTINUED THE APPROACH AND STATED THAT AT ABOUT 1-2 FEET ABOVE GROUND, ANOTHER GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE PAVEMENT RESULTING IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT LANDING GEAR.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SLIDE TO THE RIGHT.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST OFF THE RUNWAY, WITH THE LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF, DAMAGING THE RIGHT WINGTIP, THE PROPELLER, AND LEFT WING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA15CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA052), Apr 21, 2015: Arion Lightning LS-1 (N332AL), West Plains, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing in gusty wind conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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