# NTSB CEN15CA168: Jones Ronald C Bearhawk, N299BH, Walters, OK, March 8, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 7, 2015, 20:20 local (Mar 8, 2015, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Walters, OK - Coordinates: 34.400276, -98.267219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4003&lon=-98.2672&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 May 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90848 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90848/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90848 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA168 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll at night on an unlit grass strip. ## 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: [Jones Ronald C BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05630IC), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jones Ronald C BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05630IC), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: [Jones Ronald C BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05630IC), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Jones Ronald C BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05630IC), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Jones Ronald C BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05630IC), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Jones Ronald C BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05630IC), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was inbound to his unlit private grass strip at night. He sat in the right seat and maneuvered the airplane to land on runway 17. He reported a slight crosswind from the left. When the airplane touched down on the up sloping runway, it bounced once and then settled onto the runway. The passenger heard a "crunch" sound when the landing gear hit a bump in the runway. The airplane veered to the right and the pilot was unable to maintain the runway centerline. The airplane continued to the right and impacted a barbed wire fence about 115 feet from the runway. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The left brake line was found separated. The pilot reported that there was no forward visibility in this airplane during ground operations. He also stated that his failure to maintain control of the airplane contributed to the outcome. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain directional control while landing on the unlit grass strip at night with no forward visibility. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was inbound to his unlit private grass strip at night. He sat in the right seat and maneuvered the airplane to land on runway 17. He reported a slight crosswind from the left. When the airplane touched down on the up sloping runway, it bounced once and then settled onto the runway. The passenger heard a "crunch" sound when the landing gear hit a bump in the runway. The airplane veered to the right and the pilot was unable to maintain the runway centerline. The airplane continued to the right and impacted a barbed wire fence about 115 feet from the runway. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The left brake line was found separated. The pilot reported that there was no forward visibility in this airplane during ground operations. He also stated that his failure to maintain control of the airplane contributed to the outcome. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N299BH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N299BH-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 064-121-122-930, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JONES RONALD C BEARHAWK - Registry model: [Jones Ronald C BEARHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/jones-ronald-c-bearhawk) (registry code 05630IC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 064-121-122-930 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 600 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A4-40 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald C Jones - Registered owner: Ronald C Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2014 - Departed: GTU, GEORGETOWN, TX - Destination: OK12, Walters, OK - Airport: OK12, Jones Farm Field, runway 17, 2,130 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Onboard weather, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,098 total, 600 in this make and model, 4,939 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KLAW, 12 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 20150307003749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150307003749A), Mar 7, 2015: Jones Ronald C BEARHAWK, Walters, OK, Substantial damage. On 3/7/2015 the pilot was operating aircraft N299BH from georgetown municipal airport (kgtu) to Jones farm field (OK12) in VFR conditions. Aircraft N299BH is… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90848. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.