# NTSB CEN12CA081: Fenton Davis DA-2A, N808F, Center, TX, November 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 23, 2011, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Center, TX - Coordinates: 31.825555, -94.153892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8256&lon=-94.1539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82384 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82384/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82384 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA081 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate compensation for gusty, crosswind conditions while landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fenton DAVIS DA-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0562055), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fenton DAVIS DA-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md?model=0562055), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Fenton DAVIS DA-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=0562055), [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 · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Fenton DAVIS DA-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0562055), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Fenton DAVIS DA-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0562055), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot purchased the airplane on the day of the accident and received only one hour of instruction from the previous owner prior to departing for his home airport. Prior to making his first fuel stop, the pilot received weather information from an airport 44 miles away and knew he would land with a slight crosswind. He had to abort his first two attempts to land due to turbulent and gusty wind conditions. On the third landing attempt, the airplane encountered a gust from the right just as the wheels touched down, and it was pushed toward the left side of the runway. The pilot applied full power and tried to go around, but the airplane continued to veer off the side of the runway toward a ditch. The pilot said he pulled the throttle to idle before the airplane collided with the ditch but forgot to use the hand brake, since he was not used to using a hand brake (versus toe brakes) to slow the airplane. The airplane collided with the ditch and came to rest on its nose. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the inboard section of the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine and said his lack of familiarity with the airplane contributed to the accident. The closest weather facility to the accident site, which was 46 nautical miles northwest, reported wind gusting to 15 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot purchased the airplane on the day of the accident and received only one hour of instruction from the previous owner prior to departing back to his home airport. Prior to making his first fuel stop, the pilot received weather from an airport 44 miles away and knew he would land with a slight crosswind. He had to abort his first two attempts to land due to turbulent and gusty wind conditions. On the third landing attempt, the airplane encountered a gust from the right just as the wheels touched down and it was pushed toward the left side of the runway. The pilot applied full power and tried to go around, but the airplane continued to go off the side of the runway toward a ditch. The pilot said he pulled the throttle to idle before he collided with the ditch but forgot to use the hand brake since he was not used to using a hand brake (versus toe brakes) to slow the airplane. The airplane collided with the ditch and came to rest up on its nose. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the inboard section of the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine and said his lack of familiarity with the airplane contributed to the accident. The closest weather facility to the accident site, which was 46 nautical miles northwest, reported wind conditions as 330 degrees at 8 knots, gusts to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N808F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808F), registered now, S/N 100, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FENTON DAVIS DA-2A - Registry model: [Fenton DAVIS DA-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/fenton-davis-da-2a) (registry code 0562055) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 100 - Airframe hours: 730 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert B Flannigan - Registered owner: Robert B Flannigan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 21, 2011 - Departed: AQO, Llano Municpal, TX - Destination: F17, Center, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: F17, Center, runway 35 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 425 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: GGG, 46 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 20111123027889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111123027889A), Nov 23, 2011: Fenton DAVIS DA-2A, Center, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot reported he was making his third attempt at landing when a gust of wind lifted the right hand wing blowing him off the runway(35) to the left. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82384. 579 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 507 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation- FAA (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20FAA-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.