# NTSB CEN09LA189: Remos G-3/600, N23GX, Hilda, TX, February 12, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 2009, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Hilda, TX
- Coordinates: 30.536111, -99.085556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5361&lon=-99.0856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 6, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Remos Aircraft Inc., FAA San Antonio FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73435
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73435/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73435
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA189

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles while maneuvering at low altitude.

## Findings

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

- [Personality/attitude: complacency](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md)
- [Personality/attitude: self confidence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021010): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor was demonstrating low-level operations when the left wing and the vertical stabilizer struck a cable suspended across the valley. The left wing stalled and the instructor pilot applied full power and right rudder, regaining control approximately 20 feet above the ground. He then continued to the destination for an uneventful landing. A postflight inspection showed superficial marks on the left wing and the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer. There were several structural tears and radial fractures in the aft end of the fuselage boom and the top and bottom seams of the smallest part of the fuselage boom were split for more than 18 inches.

## Factual narrative

On February 12, 2009, approximately 1130 central standard time (CST), a Remos G-3/600 special light sport airplane (S-LSA), N23GX, was substantially damaged when it struck a cable suspended across a valley near Hilda, Texas. The flight instructor and the private pilot, who were the only occupants, were not injured. The airplane was registered to Remos Aircraft, Inc. and operated by the pilot. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight departed at 1125 from the Mason County Airport (T92) Mason, Texas, on a flight in visual meteorological conditions to the Gillespie County Airport (T82) Fredericksburg, Texas. The flight instructor was demonstrating low level operations when the left wing and the vertical stabilizer struck a cable suspended across the valley. The left wing stalled and the instructor pilot applied full power and right rudder regaining control at approximately 20 feet above the ground. He then continued to their destination for an uneventful landing. A post flight inspection showed superficial marks on the left wing and the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer. There were several structural tears and radial fractures in the aft end of the fuselage boom. The top and bottom seams of the smallest part of the fuselage boom were split for more than 18 inches.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N23GX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Remos G-3/600
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 245
- Airframe hours: 70
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, August 12, 2008
- Departed: T92, Mason, TX
- Destination: T82, Fredericksburg, TX
- Airport: T92, Mason County Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 3,800 total, 53 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command
- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private, student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review February 12, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 104 total, 4 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KJCT, 34 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 20090212053989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090212053989A), Feb 12, 2009: Remos Aircr REMOS G-3/6, Hilda, TX, Substantial damage. While providing flight instruction, the certified flight instructor took control of the aircraft for the purpose of demonstrate how to fly low and slow. The…

## Docket (11 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 24, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73435. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - from Flight Instructor (item 1, .PDF, 651 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20from%20Flight%20Instructor-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - from Student Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20from%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Supplementary Statement - Student Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplementary%20Statement%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Map 1 - Flight Path from T92 Airport to T82 Airport (item 4, .PDF, 932 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%201%20-%20Flight%20Path%20from%20T92%20Airport%20to%20T82%20Airport-Master.PDF
- Map 2 - Approximate Accident Location (item 5, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%202%20-%20Approximate%20Accident%20Location-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - View of Tail Surfaces (item 6, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20of%20Tail%20Surfaces-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Damage to Tail - Left Side (item 7, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damage%20to%20Tail%20-%20Left%20Side-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Damage to Tail - Right Side (item 8, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Damage%20to%20Tail%20-%20Right%20Side-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Damage to Tail - Top Left (item 9, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Damage%20to%20Tail%20-%20Top%20Left-Master.PDF
- FAA Record of Conversations with Flight Instructor and Student Pilot (item 10, .PDF, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversations%20with%20Flight%20Instructor%20and%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 11, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325782&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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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