# NTSB CEN11CA206: Waco SRE, Vidalia, LA, February 26, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 26, 2011, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Vidalia, LA
- Coordinates: 31.566944, -91.500274 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5669&lon=-91.5003&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 June 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78442/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78442
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA206

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusty wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while inbound to the destination airport, he was advised that the wind was from the south at 7 knots. While landing, the touchdown was normal, but during the rollout, the airplane veered sideways, exited the runway and nosed over. The airport manager, who witnessed the accident, said that he saw the airplane on final approach and the pilot put the airplane in a slip condition to compensate for the wind which was blowing from about 165 degrees at approximately 10 knots with some gusts. The left gear collapsed and the airplane skidded down the runway, then veered off the right side into the grass and nosed over. The propeller left a single cut mark on the edge of the runway and made several cut marks in the ground approximately 1 foot apart. The dragging wheel dug into the ground and the airplane overturned on its back.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot's written statement, he departed his private airstrip, Sydal Acres (58LA), Lake Jackson, Louisiana, and was en route to Concordia Parish Airport (0R4), Vadalia, Louisiana, to purchase fuel. En route, he was advised that the wind at 0R4 was from the south at 7 knots. He said the touchdown was normal but during the rollout, the airplane began "skipping sideways" until the landing gear "folded under." The airplane went off the side of the runway and nosed over. The airport manager who witnessed the accident, said in his written statement that he saw the airplane on final approach for runway 14. The airplane slipped to the right to compensate for the wind which was blowing from about 165 degrees at approximately 10 knots with some gusts. As the airplane transitioned to a wings-level, wheel-type touchdown, the right wing came up and it began veering to the right, scraping the bottom left wing on the pavement and scuffing the left tire. The left gear collapsed and the airplane skidded down the runway, then veered off the right side into the grass and nosed over. The propeller left a single cut mark on the edge of the runway and made several cut marks in the ground approximately 1 foot apart. The dragging wheel dug into the ground and the airplane overturned on its back. According to the FAA inspector's statement, the pilot told him that the Hardy-Anders Field/Natchez-Adams County Airport (KHEZ) Automatic Weather Observing System (AWOS) reported the wind to be from the east at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots. On touchdown, the wind "felt much stronger...gusting in excess of 20 knots." The inspector confirmed that the wind was 210 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: NC58785 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: WACO SRE
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5144
- Airframe hours: 1527
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sydal SRE, LLC
- Registered owner: Sydal SRE, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2010
- Departed: 58LA, Jackson, LA
- Destination: 0R4, Vidalia, LA
- Airport: 0R4, Concordia Parish, runway 14, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 28,514 total, 700 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: HEZ

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78442. 607 KB in all.

- Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345401&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Witness' Statement (item 2, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345400&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%27%20Statement-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Map of Accident Area (item 4, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345407&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Accident%20Area-Master.PDF
- Accident Report Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 450 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-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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