# NTSB ANC02LA124: Williamson GlaStar, N62849, Anchorage, AK, August 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2002, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.106666, -149.86444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1067&lon=-149.8644&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55763/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Factors in the accident were the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition, and the misjudged landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) - object - fence ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot, who occupied the right front seat, was landing a tundra tire-equipped experimental homebuilt airplane on runway 13, at a private, turf-surface airport. The runway is 1,078 feet long and 50 feet wide, and the pilot indicated that the surface was wet. During the landing approach, the pilot said that he noticed a slight crosswind from the right, but described the wind conditions as light and variable. He reported that about 10 feet above the runway, the airplane dropped and bounced. He added engine power to recover from the bounce, but the right crosswind turned the airplane toward trees located along the left side of the runway. During the recovery, the right wingtip contacted the ground, turning the airplane sideways. The airplane slid on the wet grass surface into trees and a residential fence. The wind at an international airport, located 5 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, was from 160 degrees (true) at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2002, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped experimental homebuilt Williamson GlaStar airplane, N62849, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Flying Crown Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the pilot-rated passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. The flight originated at the Flying Crown Airport, about 1145. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 13, 2002, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported they received a letter from a witness describing the accident. The witness indicated the pilot occupied the right front seat, and a female pilot occupied the left front seat. On September 25, the pilot telephoned the NTSB IIC. He reported that he was the pilot-in-command, and was landing the accident airplane on runway 13 at the Flying Crown Airport. He said he noticed a slight crosswind from the right, but described the wind conditions as light and variable. During the landing roll, the pilot said the right wingtip contacted the ground. The airplane then veered to the right and collided with two trees and the fence of a home located along the runway edge. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that about 10 feet above the runway, the airplane dropped and bounced. He said he added engine power to recover from the bounce, but a right crosswind turned the airplane toward trees located along the left side of the runway. During the recovery, the right wingtip contacted the ground, turning the airplane sideways. The airplane slid on the wet grass surface into trees and a residential fence. According to the Airport Facility Directory/Alaska Supplement, the Flying Crown Airport is a private, turf-surface airport. Runway 13/31 is 1,078 feet long and 50 feet wide. The closest official weather observation station is the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which is located about 5 nautical miles northwest of the accident site. On August 8, 2002, at 1153, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 160 degrees (true) at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles in light rain; clouds and sky condition, 2,000 feet scattered, 2,600 feet broken, 3,300 feet overcast; temperature, 55 degrees F; dew point, 54 degrees F; altimeter, 29.75 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62849](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62849-2003-10-22), registration cancelled 2003-10-22, S/N 5063, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WILLIAMSON GlaStar - Registry model: [Williamson Herbert Brian GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/williamson-herbert-brian-glastar) (registry code 05605E3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5063 - Airframe hours: 188 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Herbert B. Williamson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 2002, 12 hours before - Departed: AK12, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: AK12, Flying Crown, runway 13, 1,078 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; last flight review June 29, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 800 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020808024589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020808024589A), Aug 8, 2002: Amtr GLASTAR, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot he was landing on runway 13, which has a grasssurface, with a wind from the east. Upon touchdown the aircraft started to drift off… ## Other investigations on N62849 (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 ANC03LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA059), Jun 13, 2003: Williamson Glastar (N62849), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted landing, which resulted in the airplane impacting trees along the side of the runway. A factor contributing to… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.