# NTSB ANC08CA001: Rittal Glastar, N55XP, Girdwood, AK, October 8, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 7, 2007, 19:00 local (Oct 8, 2007, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Girdwood, AK
- Coordinates: 61.2377777777778, -148.642222222222
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2378&lon=-148.6422&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66872/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA001

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive use of the brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The solo private certificated pilot was practicing off airport landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The pilot reported that he was landing on a hard-packed, grassy strip, and applied the brakes too hard at the end of the landing roll.  He said the airplane nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and one lift-strut.  The pilot reported that he had landed on the strip on previous occasions, and that there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The solo private certificated pilot was practicing off airport landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The pilot reported that he was landing on a hard-packed, grassy strip, and applied the brakes too hard at the end of the landing roll.  He said the airplane nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and one lift-strut.  The pilot reported that he had landed on the strip on previous occasions, and that there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55XP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55XP-2010-12-28), registration cancelled 2010-12-28, S/N 5408, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rittal Glastar
- Registry model: [Rittal Alfred Timothy GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/rittal-alfred-timothy-glastar) (registry code 05621KK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Aerosport O-360](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-o-360) (registry code 01300, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 5408
- Airframe hours: 70
- Engines: Aerosport O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Timothy Rittal
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2007
- Departed: Z41, Lake Hood Strip, AK
- Destination: Girdwood, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 321 total, 77 in this make and model, 321 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °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 20071007022479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071007022479A), Oct 7, 2007: Amtr GLASTAR, Girdwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed from the lake hood airport for a training flight. The pilot did a takeoff and landing at the birchwood airport before heading to a…

## Other investigations on N55XP (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 ANC09CA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA106), Sep 23, 2009: Rittal Alfred Timothy Glastar (N55XP), Tuluksak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of control for an undetermined reason during the takeoff portion of an aborted landing at an off-airport site, resulting in a collision with terrain.

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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