# NTSB CEN11LA419: VanDenburg Pietenpol Air Camper, N16DV, Gwinn, MI, June 25, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2011, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Gwinn, MI - Coordinates: 46.35361, -87.395278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3536&lon=-87.3953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80890 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA419 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80890/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80890 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA419 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. ## 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: [Vandenburg David R PIETENPOL AIR CMPR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05619LH), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vandenburg David R PIETENPOL AIR CMPR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619LH), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Vandenburg David R PIETENPOL AIR CMPR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05619LH), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Vandenburg David R PIETENPOL AIR CMPR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05619LH), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Vandenburg David R PIETENPOL AIR CMPR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619LH), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot reported that he overcorrected for the right veer, which resulted in a ground loop to the left, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The firewall and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He further noted that the accident could have been prevented had he used smaller control inputs in response to the initial veer to the right. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2011, at 1430 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built VanDenburg Pietenpol Air Camper airplane, N16DV, was substantially damaged while landing at Sawyer International Airport (KSAW), Gwinn, Michigan. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed KSAW at 1330. The pilot reported that the landing approach to runway 1 (12,366 feet by 150 feet, concrete) was uneventful and that the airplane touched down on the runway centerline with ample runway remaining. During the landing roll the tailwheel-equipped airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot reported that he "over corrected" for the right veer which resulted in a ground loop to the left. The left main landing gear collapsed during the ground loop. The firewall and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He further noted that the accident could have been prevented had he used smaller control inputs in response to the initial veer to the right. At 1450, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 080 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 25 degrees Celsius; dew point 8 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 29.92 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16DV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16DV-2011-12-15), registration cancelled 2011-12-15, S/N 0016, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VanDenburg Pietenpol Air Camper - Registry model: [Vandenburg David R PIETENPOL AIR CMPR](https://openairdocs.org/model/vandenburg-david-r-pietenpol-air-cmpr) (registry code 05619LH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0016 - Airframe hours: 101 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2011 - Departed: KSAW, Gwinn, MI - Destination: KSAW, Gwinn, MI - Airport: KSAW, Sawyer International Airport, runway 01, 12,366 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,050 total, 101 in this make and model, 4,700 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KSAW ## 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 20110625011919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110625011919A), Jun 25, 2011: Vandenburg David R PIETENPOL AIR CMPR, Marquette, MI, Substantial damage. On June 25, 2011 at 2:54PM EDT an experimental owner/amateur built pietenpol air camper aircraft, registration N16DV, sustained substantial damage during a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80890. 356 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359999&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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.