- Date
- September 10, 2012, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ft. Morgan, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4589MPiper PA-11
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Case key
- 85066
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 pilot's loss of control during landing after encountering an unexpected wind gust.
Findings · 2
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
While practicing landings, the sport pilot performed a three-point, full-flap landing on the runway. During the landing roll, an unexpected wind gust knocked the tail wheel out of its detent and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. The airplane ground looped and sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right aileron, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane before the accident. The pilot and the flight instructor reported the wind was about 3 to 4 knots down the runway, with dust devils crossing the runway.
Factual narrative
While practicing landings, the sport pilot performed a three-point, full flap landing on the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane experienced an unexpected wind gust to the left side of the airplane. The wind gust knocked the tail wheel out of its detent and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. The airplane ground looped resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, right aileron, and fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. After the accident, the pilot and certificated flight instructor reported the wind was about 3 to 4 knots down the runway, with dust devils crossing the runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4589M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-11
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11-92
- Airframe hours
- 6,521
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C, 105 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Morris Jerry W
- Registered owner
- Morris Jerry W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 27, 2012 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- KFMM · Ft. Morgan, CO
- Destination
- KFMM · Ft. Morgan, CO
- Airport
- KFMM · Ft Morgan Municipal, runway 32, 5,219 × 60 ft, concrete
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
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- December 5, 2009
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,613 total · 7 in this make and model · 7 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KFMM
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 802 KB in all.
Other investigations on N4589M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.