# NTSB CEN09CA352: Aviat A-1A, N391C, Marfa, TX, June 12, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 12, 2009, 16:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Marfa, TX - Coordinates: 30.369167, -104.017219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3692&lon=-104.0172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 74038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74038/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74038 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA352 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing in gusty winds. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2210405), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210405), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2210405), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2210405), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was using his single-engine airplane to conduct an aerial survey of his ranch when he noted a trough that was overflowing. He elected to land at the nearby 1,100-foot-long dirt airstrip so that he could fix the water problem. During landing, the pilot encountered a gust of wind and the airplane bounced, traveling beyond the point where an aborted landing could be safely achieved due to a row of power lines. The pilot first applied brakes, which caused the tail to rise, but not enough to slow the airplane down to a full stop. He then applied full brakes, subsequently flipping the airplane over and resulting in damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. ## Factual narrative The private pilot was using his single-engine airplane to conduct an aerial survey of his ranch, when he noted a trough that was overflowing. He elected to land at the nearby 1,100-foot-long, dirt airstrip so he could fix the water problem. During landing, the pilot encountered a gust of wind and the airplane bounced, traveling beyond the point where an aborted landing could be safely achieved due to a row of power lines. The pilot first applied brakes, which caused the tail to rise, but the not enough to slow the airplane down to a full stop. So, he then applied full brakes which subsequently flipped the airplane over resulting in damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N391C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N391C-2011-07-19), registration cancelled 2011-07-19, S/N 1467, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1A - Registry model: [Aviat A-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1a) (registry code 2210405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1467 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fowlkes Preston L - Registered owner: Fowlkes Preston L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: None, Fowlkes, TX - Destination: None, Marfa, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: None, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 715 total, 580 in this make and model ## 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 20090612007669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090612007669A), Jun 12, 2009: Aviat A1A, Marfa, TX, Substantial damage. (-23)On June 12, 2009 at approximately 1655 CDT, N391C, an Aviat aircraft inc. husky model A-1A, was attempting to land at a private strip on the san jancinto… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74038. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Written Statement-Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement-Pilot-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. --- 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.