# NTSB CEN11CA521: Mills GS-2, N343A, Jamestown, ND, July 20, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 20, 2011, 16:25 local (21:25 UTC)
- Place: Jamestown, ND
- Coordinates: 46.929721, -98.678337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9297&lon=-98.6783&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81255
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA521
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81255/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA521

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions.

## 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: [Mills Jerrell L GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056250C), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Mills Jerrell L GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056250C), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Mills Jerrell L GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056250C), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Mills Jerrell L GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=056250C), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/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: [Mills Jerrell L GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056250C), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Mills Jerrell L GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056250C), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Prior to landing, the pilot overflew the airport to determine the wind direction, but all he saw was a limp wind sock. During the landing, the airplane encountered an 80-degree, gusting crosswind and the airplane ground looped. The airplane's fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane and said the accident could have been prevented if he had made a low pass over the runway to determine the wind direction and speed prior to landing.

## Factual narrative

The personal flight with two pilots aboard departed with no predetermined destination. The right seat pilot was the flying pilot. The left seat pilot was the nonflying pilot and also the airplane's owner. They overflew one airport and decided to go on to another airport where they would land. The right seat pilot overflew the destination airport in order to determine the wind direction. As he overflew the airport, he saw a flag by the terminal and a "limp" windsock, which was very hard to see and gave "poor" information. During the landing, the airplane ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to fuselage. A crosswind with gusting winds prevailed at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N343A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N343A), registered now, S/N 7224, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MILLS GS-2
- Registry model: [Mills Jerrell L GS-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/mills-jerrell-l-gs-2) (registry code 056250C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b1a) (registry code 41857, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 7224
- Airframe hours: 89
- Engines: Superior XPIO360-B1AD2 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Individual
- Registered owner: Individual
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 3, 2011
- Departed: 1310, Glendive, MT
- Destination: JMS, Jamestown, ND
- Airport: JMS, Jamestown Regional Airport, runway 22, 5,750 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 3,559 total, 23 in this make and model, 3,278 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 370 total, 45 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.59 inHg
- Observed at: JMS

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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