20230405013209A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Lowe Bruce SKYSTR KTFX IV-1200 · Herlong, CA · April 5, 2023

Date: April 5, 2023 · 11:30 local
Place: Herlong, CA
Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1641E
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR23LA151
Reported as: Lowe Bruce Skystr Ktfx IV-1200
Reported engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 580 total515 in this make and model38 in the last 90 days

N1641ERegistration cancelled Nov 28, 2023 · Lowe Bruce SKYSTR KTFX IV-1200S/N 1854 · Built 1992 Airframe modelLowe Bruce SKYSTR KTFX IV-1200 Engine modelBombardier ROTAX (ALL)Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Based on pilot's statement, winds were turbulent and gusty during landing. Aircraft bounced once, and on second landing, stayed on ground, but with reduced landing distance. Pilot applied maximum braking and full elevator as he is used to doing.

However, ground was softer and stickier than pilot expected, which caused tires to 'grab', resulting in prop strike and aircraft flipping.

As the FAA filed it

BASED ON PILOT'S STATEMENT, WINDS WERE TURBULENT AND GUSTY DURING LANDING. AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ONCE, AND ON SECOND LANDING, STAYED ON GROUND, BUT WITH REDUCED LANDING DISTANCE. PILOT APPLIED MAXIMUM BRAKING AND FULL ELEVATOR AS HE IS USED TO DOING.

HOWEVER, GROUND WAS SOFTER AND STICKIER THAN PILOT EXPECTED, WHICH CAUSED TIRES TO 'GRAB', RESULTING IN PROP STRIKE AND AIRCRAFT FLIPPING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR23LA151Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSusanville, CAThe pilot’s braking technique during an off airport precautionary landing on unforeseen soft terrain, which resulted in a nose over.Apr 5, 2023 · Substantial damage