# NTSB CEN12LA179: Skeeter 1M, N1111V, Oklahoma City, OK, March 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 3, 2012, 08:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Oklahoma City, OK - Coordinates: 35.488056, -97.823608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4881&lon=-97.8236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83033/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83033 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA179 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while on final approach as he was executing a turn to provide spacing between his airplane and an airplane on the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Skeeter 1M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056010W), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Skeeter 1M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=056010W), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Skeeter 1M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056010W), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Skeeter 1M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056010W), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying his experimental home-built airplane on a cross-country flight when the canopy came loose, so he diverted to another airport to tighten the canopy. His airplane was on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern and another airplane was on final approach. Several witnesses said that when the accident airplane was on final approach in the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to make a 180-degree turn. The pilot likely saw the other airplane on the runway, and, not knowing its intention, he attempted to add more space between his airplane and the other airplane. The accident airplane was observed about 400 feet above the ground in a 45-degree banked turn. The accident airplane subsequently descended and impacted terrain. The accident pilot did not have a current medical certificate. No preimpact anomalies were detected during a postaccident examination of the wreckage. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 3, 2011, about 0840 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Skeeter 1M airplane, N1111V, impacted terrain while on approach to runway 35L at the Clarence E Page Municipal Airport (RCE), near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a VFR flight plan. The flight originated from the Cole Landing Area Airport, near Newcastle, Oklahoma, about 0800. According to statements given to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the accident airplane and another airplane were flying together. The accident airplane diverted to RCE due to an issue with a loose canopy. The pilot reported on an airplane-to-airplane frequency that he wanted to land at RCE to tighten the canopy. The accident airplane was on final when an airplane was also on final approach and was about to perform a touch and go on the runway. The accident airplane was observed in about 45 degrees of bank in order to “swerve” out of the way of the airplane on final approach for the touch and go. The accident airplane was observed to be about 400 feet above the ground when it banked. The accident airplane subsequently descended and impacted terrain. The pilot from the airplane performing the touch and go stated that he did not hear any radio transmissions on the common traffic advisory frequency from any airplane in or near the traffic pattern. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 92-year-old pilot held a FAA commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. His last FAA Third-Class medical certificate was issued on August 12, 2002. The pilot reported on the application for that medical certificate that he had accumulated 2,500 hours of total flight time and 20 hours of flight time in the six months prior to that application. He also indicated that he was taking Casodex. Casodex is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen used to treat prostate cancer. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION N1111V was an experimental amateur-built Skeeter 1M, low-wing, tailwheel, single engine airplane with serial number 1M. According to FAA airworthiness records, the airplane was powered by a 125-horsepower Lycoming O-290-G engine that drove a Sensenich propeller. The pilot reported that the airplane had an empty weight of 818 pounds and a maximum weight of 1,480 pounds. The airplane fuel capacity was 27 gallons. The two-place airplane was equipped with side by side seating and dual flight controls. The airplane had a reported maximum speed of 195 mph. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 0815, the recorded weather at RCE was: Wind 330 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 1 degree C; dew point -5degrees C; altimeter 30.16 inches of mercury. AIRPORT INFORMATION RCE was a non-towered, city-owned airport with a field elevation of 1,354 feet above mean sea level (msl). RCE was located about 15 miles west of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Runway 35R was a 3,502-foot-long by 75-foot-wide concrete runway. Runway 35L was a 6,014-foot-long by 100-foot-wide concrete runway. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION A FAA inspector examined the wreckage on-scene. According to the inspector, the airplane’s point of impact was approximately 179 feet from the approach end of runway 35L and the final aircraft resting position was 154 feet from approach end of Runway 35L. The airplane came to rest with a heading of approximately 200 degrees. A three-foot gouge was found in the terrain approximately 180 feet from the edge of the runway. The gouge appeared to have been made by a propeller blade and the direction of the gouge was consistent with the airplane on a heading of approximately 300 degrees. The left wing was bent aft and up and was partially separated from the fuselage. The flight control surfaces were all intact and still attached to the aircraft and wings. The right and left ailerons were connected to their cockpit controls. The flaps were in a stowed position. The empennage’s flight controls were intact and connected to their control cables. No pre-impact anomalies with the engine or propeller were detected. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was performed on the pilot by Oklahoma’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The pilot’s cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force trauma. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report was negative for the tests performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1111V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1111V-2013-08-26), registration cancelled 2013-08-26, S/N 1M, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SKEETER 1M - Registry model: [Skeeter 1M](https://openairdocs.org/model/skeeter-1m) (registry code 056010W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1M - Engines: LYCOMING O-290-G 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 2OK7, Newcastle, OK - Destination: RCE, Oklahoma City, OK - Airport: RCE, Clarence E Page Municipal Arpt, runway 35L, 6,014 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 92; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: RCE ## 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 20120303004489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120303004489A), Mar 3, 2012: Eaves SKEETER, Yukon, OK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. [privacy data omitted] Crashed on approach to landing at rce, Ce Page Airport, Oklahoma. It was reported [privacy data omitted] was attempting a landing on… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83033. 550 KB in all. - Toxicological Report (item 1, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Witness Statements and Accident Site Sketch from Oklahoma City Police Dept (item 2, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Accident%20Site%20Sketch%20from%20Oklahoma%20City%20Police%20Dept-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports - FAA Inspector's Report (item 3, .PDF, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Casodex Description from PDR.net (item 4, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Casodex%20Description%20from%20PDR.net-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.