# Accident 20230428018639A: Kerr John HATZ CLASSIC, Ennis, MT, April 28, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 28, 2023, 14:00 local time
- Place: Ennis, MT
- Airport: Ennis - Big Sky
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.2757° N, 111.6489° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2757&lon=-111.6489&mi=10
- Aircraft: N687HZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N687HZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Kerr John HATZ CLASSIC (registry code 056278E, https://openairdocs.org/model/kerr-john-hatz-classic) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KERR JOHN HATZ CLASSIC
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,100 total, 5 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA354) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230428018639A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVIATION:

WHILE OPERATING A HATZ CLASSIC EXPERIMENTAL BIPLANE ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AND UPON LANDING ON RWY 16 AT THE ENNIS, MT AIRPORT (KEKS) THE PILOT IN COMMAND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER TOUCH DOWN RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP  WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER OF THE AIRCRAFT.

CAUSAUL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A TOUCH AND GO, CAME BACK AROUND AND LANDED, WITH NO ISSUES. AFTER GROUND TAXIING TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY TO MAKE A TURN ONTO AN UNIMPROVED TAXIWAY TO HIS HANGAR, THE PILOT STATED “I SLOWED DOWN, STARTED TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN AND IT JUST CAME AROUND ON ME“.

THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE, AND THOUGH HE HAD RECENT EXPERIENCE AND A LOT OF TAILWHEEL TIME, HE HAD ONLY APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME AND LESS THAN 5 LANDINGS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.

NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.

NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.

ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE:

COMPLIANCE ACTION – COUNSELING. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED ON THE COMMON TENDANCIES

OF CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRCRAFT AND THE EFFECTS OF WIND ON TAKE-OFF, LANDING AND GROUND OPERATIONS IN THESE AIRCRAFT.

SAS ID: NM05202400356

## 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 WPR23LA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA354), Apr 29, 2023: Kerr John Hatz Classic (N687HZ), Ennis, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a ground-loop.

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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