# NTSB ANC04CA108: Bailey Merlin GT, N354B, Kenai, AK, September 12, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 11, 2004, 16:40 local (Sep 12, 2004, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.573055, -151.244995
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5731&lon=-151.2450&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60128
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04CA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60128/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA108

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during the subsequent aborted landing.  A factor associated with the accident was a gusty wind condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The private pilot of the experimental airplane elected to land with a quartering tailwind to meld in with traffic.  He said the airplane bounced on the initial touchdown, and upon touching down the second time, a gust of wind from the left and behind, lifted the left wing and the airplane became airborne.  He applied full power to abort the landing, but the airplane settled and impacted the runway, collapsing the landing gear and damaging the left wing.

## Factual narrative

On September 11, 2004, about 1640 Alaska daylight time, an experimental Bailey Merlin GT airplane, N354B, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an aborted landing at the Kenai Airport, Kenai, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 11, the pilot said he elected to land with a quartering tailwind to meld in with traffic.  He said the airplane bounced on the initial touch down, and upon touching down the second time, a gust of wind from the left and behind, lifted the left wing, and the airplane became airborne.  He said he applied full power to abort the landing, but the airplane settled and impacted the runway, collapsing the landing gear.  The pilot indicated in addition to the landing gear, the left wing was damaged.  He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N354B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N354B-2006-01-31), registration cancelled 2006-01-31, S/N MB-99 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bailey Merlin GT
- Registry model: [Bailey Marvin F MERLIN G T](https://openairdocs.org/model/bailey-marvin-f-merlin-g-t) (registry code 056063E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: MB-99
- Engines: Continental O-200-A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marvin Bailey
- Registered owner: Marvin Bailey
- Departed: PAEN, Kenai, AK
- Destination: Kenai, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 294 total, 127 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20040911024849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040911024849A), Sep 11, 2004: Amtr MERLIN, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 11, 20O4, about 16:40 Alaska daylight time, an experimental bailey Merlin gt airplane, N354B, sustained substantial damage when it collided…

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.

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