# NTSB CEN09CA362: Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912, N594VZ, Alamogordo, NM, June 15, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2009, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Alamogordo, NM
- Coordinates: 32.839721, -105.990554
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8397&lon=-105.9906&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 September 10, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA362
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74063/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74063
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA362

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control while landing with gusting winds.

## 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: [Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05901CU), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05901CU), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901CU), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05901CU), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05901CU), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05901CU), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The sport pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing on Runway 03. The pilot had checked weather conditions approximately 15 minutes prior, and the winds were from 360 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 20 knots. During this landing, the winds were reported to be from 360 degrees at approximately 8 knots. The pilot decided to angle his landing on the runway approximately 20 degrees, since the weight-shift airplane did not require a long ground run. Upon touchdown, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the side of the runway. The pilot corrected back to the runway and attempted to take off. Another gust of wind lifted one side of the wing resulting in a loss of directional control. The weight-shift airplane rolled inverted before coming to rest on the runway, causing substantial damage to the fabric wing, wing spars, and suspension cables.

## Factual narrative

The sport pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing on runway 03. The pilot had checked weather conditions approximately 15 minutes prior, and the winds were from 360 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 20 knots. During this landing, the winds were reported to be from 360 degrees at approximately 8 knots. The pilot decided to angle his landing on the runway approximately 20 degrees, since the weight-shift airplane did not require a long ground run. Upon touchdown, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the side of the runway. The pilot corrected back to the runway and attempted to takeoff. Another gust of wind lifted one side of the wing resulting in a loss of directional control. The weight-shift airplane rolled inverted before coming to rest on the runway. Substantial damage was sustained to the fabric wing, wing spars, and suspension cables.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N594VZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N594VZ), registered now, S/N XT-912-183LSA, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD XT-912
- Registry model: [Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-windsports-pty-xt-912) (registry code 05901CU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Weight-shift
- Serial number: XT-912-183LSA
- Airframe hours: 91
- Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2008, 34 hours before
- Departed: KALM, Alamogordo, NM
- Destination: KALM, Alamogordo, NM
- Airport: KALM, Alamogordo-White Sands Regiona, runway 03, 7,006 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; flight hours: 128 total, 125 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74063. 717 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 717 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315837&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.

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