# NTSB CEN16LA137: Matthews H Thomas Jodel F11 A, N3068M, Marathon, TX, March 26, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 26, 2016, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Marathon, TX - Coordinates: 30.20861, -103.252502 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2086&lon=-103.2525&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92933 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92933/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92933 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to conduct a go-around in a timely manner, which resulted in impact with trees and a powerline. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Matthews H Thomas JODEL - F11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05613OB), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Matthews H Thomas JODEL - F11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=05613OB), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Matthews H Thomas JODEL - F11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05613OB), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Matthews H Thomas JODEL - F11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05613OB), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot stated that he was landing in the experimental amateur-built airplane at his 1,600-ft-long private runway when he attempted a "late" go-around. The airplane impacted trees, a powerline, and terrain, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On March 26, 2016, about 1500 central daylight time, an amateur-built Jodel F11-A airplane, N3068M, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees, wires, and terrain, during a go-around from runway 35 at the Los Muertos Airport, Marathon, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Fort Stockton-Pecos County Airport, Fort Stockton, Texas about 1430. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and that the airplane hit trees and a power line during the attempted go-around. He reported to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that he initiated the go-around late and that the airplane had insufficient climb performance to clear the trees and power line at the departure end of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3068M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3068M-2017-01-03), registration cancelled 2017-01-03, S/N 5279, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MATTHEWS H THOMAS JODEL F11 A (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Matthews H Thomas JODEL - F11-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/matthews-h-thomas-jodel-f11-a) (registry code 05613OB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5279 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 300 - Engines: Continental C-75 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 13, 2015 - Departed: FST, FORT STOCKTON, TX - Destination: 6TE2, Marathon, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 6TE2, Los Muertos, runway 35, 1,560 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 13,000 total, 40 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: E38 ## 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 20160326002869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160326002869A), Mar 26, 2016: Matthews H Thomas JODEL - F11-A, Marathon, TX, Destroyed. On March 26, 2016, at 1620 central daylight savings time, a jodel F-11-A experimental home built single engine land aircraft bearing registration number… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92933. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector statement (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20statement-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.