# NTSB CEN13CA026: Mace Justin I Dragonfly, N764JM, Durango, CO, October 9, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 9, 2012, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Durango, CO - Coordinates: 37.209999, -107.866668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2100&lon=-107.8667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 85404 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85404/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85404 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA026 ## Probable cause The pilot’s delayed decision to perform a go-around, which resulted in the airplane impacting trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inexperience in the accident airplane and his encounter with conditions that exceeded his capabilities. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mace Justin I DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05644LC), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mace Justin I DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05644LC), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Mace Justin I DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md?model=05644LC), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Mace Justin I DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05644LC), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Other: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Mace Justin I DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05644LC), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during each of three previous attempts to land at the destination airport, he encountered turbulence just before the airplane touched down and decided to perform go-arounds. He stated that during the accident landing, the airplane was not properly aligned with the runway centerline before touchdown due to his “over-correction of the rudder.” The pilot applied power to perform another go-around, and the airplane began to “porpoise” as the pilot attempted to climb away from the runway. The airplane collided with trees, and the wing and canard sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further stated that he was inexperienced in the accident airplane in turbulence near ground level and that he should have revised his destination to an airport with a wider runway and no nearby trees. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while attempting to land at the airport, he encountered turbulence just before the airplane touched down. The airplane alignment prior to touchdown was approximately 20 degrees off of runway centerline due to over-correction of the rudder. The pilot applied power to execute a go-around and the airplane began to porpoise as the pilot attempted to climb away from the runway. The airplane collided with trees and the wing and canard sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N764JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N764JM-2018-02-20), registration cancelled 2018-02-20, S/N 764, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MACE JUSTIN I DRAGONFLY - Registry model: [Mace Justin I DRAGONFLY](https://openairdocs.org/model/mace-justin-i-dragonfly) (registry code 05644LC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 764 - Airframe hours: 1350 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 7, 2012 - Departed: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: 00C, Durango, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 00C, Animas Air Park, runway 01, 5,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 25, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 399 total, 6 in this make and model, 399 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: 00C, 7 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 20121009024429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121009024429A), Oct 9, 2012: Mace Justin I DRAGONFLY, Durango, CO, Substantial damage. Departed aeg with a light crosswind. Light turbulence en route to 00C. Had light winds from the west, 3 attemptes at landing in 00C rwy 19.attempt at landing… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85404. 772 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 772 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.