# NTSB CEN12LA369: Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, N721R, Norwalk, OH, June 8, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2012, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Norwalk, OH - Coordinates: 41.24472, -82.551109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2447&lon=-82.5511&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA369 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83975/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83975 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA369 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in a crosswind. ## 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: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7830502), [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: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, upon touchdown, the tailwheel-equipped airplane's right brake "locked up" and the airplane then veered off the right side of the runway. The airplane struck a 3-foot-wide drainage ditch about 66 feet from the edge of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The examination of the accident site revealed runway skid marks and a wingtip scrape, which indicated that the right wheel was not on the ground until shortly before it contacted the ditch. The right brake successfully passed the acceptance test procedure with no visual indication of fluid leakage around the piston. The pilot had 997 total flight hours with 1 hour logged in the accident airplane. The accident flight was the first flight he had in the airplane, and it was his first landing in the accident airplane. The surface weather observation at an airport located about 18 nautical miles from the accident site indicated the wind was 320 degrees at 9 knots. The airplane landed on the runway at 280 degrees, which indicates that a 6-knot crosswind existed at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2012, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, N721R, sustained substantial damage when it lost directional control during landing at the Norwalk-Huron County Airport (5A1), Norwalk, Ohio. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered and operated by a private individual under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed Geauga County Airport (7G8), Middlefield, Ohio, at 1230. The pilot reported that the tailwheel equipped airplane was landing on runway 28 (4,210 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). He reported that the right brake "locked up" upon touchdown causing the airplane to veer off the runway. The airplane struck a 3-foot wide drainage ditch that was about 66 feet from the edge of the runway and ran parallel to the runway, which resulted in sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the accident site. He reported that the runway skid marks and the wingtip scrape indicated that the right wheel was not on the ground until shortly before contacting the ditch. The inspector reported that the airplane had a very narrow wheel stance and limited forward visibility in the landing attitude. The right brake was tested at the brake manufacturer's facility with FAA oversight. The brake successfully passed the acceptance test procedure, and there was no visual indication of fluid leakage around the piston. The pilot had 997 total flight hours with 1 hour logged in the accident airplane. The accident flight was the first flight he had in the airplane, and it was his first landing in the accident airplane. At 1353, the surface weather observation at the Lorain County Regional Airport (LPR), Lorain, Ohio, located about 18 nautical miles east of 5A1, was: wind 320 degrees at 9 knots; 10 miles visibility; sky clear; temperature 26 degrees Celsius; dew point 7 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.05 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N721R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N721R), registered now, S/N 1840, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RYAN AERONAUTICAL ST3KR - Registry model: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr) (registry code 7830502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Fairchild 6-440-C5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-c5) (registry code 26008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1840 - Year built: 1942 - Airframe hours: 1946 - Engines: Ranger 6-440-C5 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Roger Parshall - Registered owner: Roger Parshall - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2012 - Departed: K7G8, Middleton, OH - Destination: K5A1, Norwalk, OH - Airport: K5A1, Norwald-Huron County, runway 28, 4,210 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 2, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 997 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LPR, 18 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 20120608013699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120608013699A), Jun 8, 2012: Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, Norwalk, OH, Substantial damage. Pilot sated that on landing right brake stuck and aircraft veered to the right off of runway and struck ditch. Pilot and owner failed to notify the FAA of this… ## Other investigations on N721R (2) 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. - [NTSB LAX83FA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA240), May 21, 1983: Ryan PT-22/ST-3KR (N721R), Mesa, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal - [NTSB LAX71DUJ73](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71DUJ73), Apr 4, 1971: Ryan ST-3KR (N721R), Scottsdale, AZ, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83975. 10.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413655&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Brake Test (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413656&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Brake%20Test-Redacted.PDF - Wreckage Release (item 3, .PDF, 463 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Release-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Airplane in Hangar After Accident (item 4, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413658&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20in%20Hangar%20After%20Accident-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Airplane After Hangar Damage (item 5, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Airplane%20After%20Hangar%20Damage-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.