# NTSB ANC16CA055: Kirbybilt Xcalibur, N505XC, Valdez, AK, July 19, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2016, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Valdez, AK
- Coordinates: 61.162223, -146.548339 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1622&lon=-146.5483&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93800
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC16CA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93800/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93800
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16CA055

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glide path during landing, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the airstrip, a landing gear collapse, and subsequent substantial damage to the fuselage.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kirbybilt XCALIBUR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056261H), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kirbybilt XCALIBUR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056261H), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Kirbybilt XCALIBUR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056261H), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Kirbybilt XCALIBUR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=056261H), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Kirbybilt XCALIBUR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056261H), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Kirbybilt XCALIBUR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=056261H), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he made an approach to a remote grass airstrip that resulted in the tailwheel-equipped airplane being too low to make the airstrip threshold. During the touchdown, the main landing gear impacted an embankment and collapsed, and the bottom of the fuselage impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the pilot reported to avoid landing at this particular area until more reconnaissance is conducted along with additional off airport operations practice. The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3A (2004). This handbook discusses a low final approach and states in part: When it is realized the runway will not be reached unless appropriate action is taken, power must be applied immediately to maintain the airspeed while the pitch attitude is raised to increase lift and stop the descent. When the proper approach path has been intercepted, the correct approach attitude should be reestablished and the power reduced and a stabilized approach maintained.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he made an approach to a remote grass airstrip that resulted in the tailwheel-equipped airplane being too low to make the airstrip threshold. During the touchdown, the main landing gear impacted an embankment and collapsed, and the bottom of the fuselage impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the pilot reported to avoid landing at this particular area until more reconnaissance is conducted along with additional off airport operations practice. The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3A (2004). This handbook discusses a low final approach and states in part: When it is realized the runway will not be reached unless appropriate action is taken, power must be applied immediately to maintain the airspeed while the pitch attitude is raised to increase lift and stop the descent. When the proper approach path has been intercepted, the correct approach attitude should be reestablished and the power reduced and a stabilized approach maintained.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N505XC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N505XC), registered now, S/N XC001, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KIRBYBILT AIRCRAFT XCALIBUR
- Registry model: [Kirbybilt XCALIBUR](https://openairdocs.org/model/kirbybilt-xcalibur) (registry code 056261H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-H2AD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-h2ad) (registry code 42131, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: XC001
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 451.7
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 6, 2016
- Departed: VDZ, VALDEZ, AK
- Destination: VDZ, VALDEZ, AK
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 194 total, 189 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: PAVD, 11 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 20160719012909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160719012909A), Jul 19, 2016: Kirbybilt Aircraft XCALIBUR, Valdez, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot made an approach that was too low resulting in the landing gear striking a bank and the aircraft landing on its belly.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93800. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 522 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443884&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.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.

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