ATL06CA034

NTSB accident investigation · Labarre Hatz CB1 · Walhalla, SC · January 11, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
January 11, 2006, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
Place
Walhalla, SC
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N86LLLabarre Hatz CB1
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 25, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Columbia FSDO-13
FAA report
20060111000679A
Case key
63095

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain to land. Contributing factors were the wet, soft, grassy runway.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Terrain condition - grass
Terrain condition - soft
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selectedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - wet
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The pilot stated that it had been raining for a couple of days prior to the accident flight. He departed Clemson, South Carolina, on a visual flight rules flight and flew around the local area before landing at Seneca, South Carolina. The pilot stated that he took a short break and departed Seneca en route to Walhalla, South Carolina. The pilot stated that he thought about not landing at Walhalla Airport since it has a grass strip and there had been a lot of rain. He entered left traffic and decided to land. Upon touchdown the main landing gear collided with the wet, soft, soggy, grass runway, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated, "I made an improper decision by not making a three point landing. I knew the grass was wet and the airplane would not have nosed over on touchdown in a three point attitude." The pilot further stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated it had been raining for a couple of days prior to the accident flight. He departed Clemson, South Carolina, on a visual flight rules flight and flew around the local area before landing at Seneca, South Carolina. The pilot stated he took a short break and departed Seneca enroute to Walhalla, South Carolina. The pilot stated he thought about not landing at Walhalla Airport since it has a grass strip and there had been allot of rain. He entered left traffic and decided to make a wheel landing. On touchdown the main landing gear collided with the wet, soft, soggy, grass runway, and the airplane nosed over inverted. The pilot stated, "I made an improper decision by not making at three point landing. I knew the grass was wet and the airplane would not have nosed over on touchdown in a three point attitude." The pilot further stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N86LL
Reported as
Labarre Hatz CB1
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
62
Airframe hours
334
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Charles W. Mc Connell
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 2005 · 16 hours before
Departed
Tokenna, SC
Destination
Walhalla, SC
Airport
NONE · Tokenna Air Park, runway 20, 2,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
76
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 1, 2005
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
32,000 total · 50 in this make and model · 25,700 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
280° at 12 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
29.84 inHg
Observed at
CEU, 8 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.