# NTSB ANC09CA070: Dressen Donald L Back Count, N425BC, Anchorage, AK, July 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 18, 2009, 17:00 local (Jul 19, 2009, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.262779, -150.370559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2628&lon=-150.3706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (Airworthiness) - NTSB case key (mKey): 74328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74328/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74328 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a ground-loop and substantial damage to the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dressen Donald L BACK COUNTRY EXPLR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05604JN), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dressen Donald L BACK COUNTRY EXPLR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05604JN), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Dressen Donald L BACK COUNTRY EXPLR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=05604JN), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Dressen Donald L BACK COUNTRY EXPLR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05604JN), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Dressen Donald L BACK COUNTRY EXPLR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05604JN), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported he was practicing touch-and-go landings in his homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off airport site, which required a correction for a variable left crosswind. The airplane was operated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot said that during touchdown on the mud-covered site, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and it subsequently ground-looped to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his report to the NTSB that the accident could have been avoided if he had been proficient in crosswind landings at off airport sites. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot reported he was practicing touch-and-go landings in his homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off airport site, which required a correction for a variable left crosswind. The airplane was operated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot said that during touchdown on the mud-covered site, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and it subsequently ground-looped to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his report to the NTSB that the accident could have been avoided if he had been proficient in crosswind landings at off airport sites. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N425BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N425BC), registered now, S/N 0001, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DRESSEN DONALD L BACK COUNT - Registry model: [Dressen Donald L BACK COUNTRY EXPLR](https://openairdocs.org/model/dressen-donald-l-back-country-explr) (registry code 05604JN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0001 - Airframe hours: 700 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Raymond E. Hout - Registered owner: Raymond E. Hout - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 20, 2009, 50 hours before - Departed: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,900 total, 40 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Observed at: MRI, 10 nm away ## 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 20090718047649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090718047649A), Jul 18, 2009: Dressen Don BACK COUNTR, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. According to the airman, he was practicing cross-wind landings on the mud flats near the mouth of the big susitna river, Alaska. Upon landing, at the touchdown… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 14, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74328. 611 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 611 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.