- Date
- May 9, 2012, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Moorhead, MN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9922PFlight Design Ctls
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 18, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120509007439A
- Case key
- 83632
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure to maintain adequate airspeed for the wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot overflew the airport to verify wind conditions; the windsock indicated a slight crosswind for the landing. While on short final approach for runway 12, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and the pilot applied rudder and aileron to compensate for the wind conditions. The airplane subsequently stalled above the runway and landed hard. The airplane departed the runway surface, entered a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no mechanical problems prior to the accident. The airplane's wings and fuselage were bent and cracked. The pilot reported that the wind was 220 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
Factual narrative
The pilot overflew the airport prior to landing to verify wind conditions. The windsock indicated a slight crosswind for the landing. While on short final approach for runway 12, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and the pilot applied rudder and aileron to compensate for the wind conditions. The airplane stalled above the runway and landed hard. The airplane departed the runway surface, entered a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no mechanical problems prior to the accident. The airplane's wings and fuselage were bent and cracked. The pilot reported that the wind was 220 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9922P
- Reported as
- Flight Design Ctls
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 07-11-23
- Airframe hours
- 327
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- On File
- Registered owner
- On File
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 20, 2012
- Departed
- FFM · Fergus Falls, MN
- Destination
- JKJ · Moorhead, MN
- Airport
- JKJ · Moorhead Municipal Airport, runway 12, 4,300 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- April 3, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 102 total · 14 in this make and model · 46 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.