# NTSB CEN21LA217: Smith Miniplane DSA-1, N179VP, Fulton, MO, May 12, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 12, 2021, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Fulton, MO - Coordinates: 38.838449, -91.999933 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8384&lon=-91.9999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103080 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103080/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103080 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA217 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing in gusty crosswinds. ## 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: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=83501K9), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=83501K9), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=83501K9), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=83501K9), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=83501K9), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane when on touchdown, the airplane’s right wing lifted and the pilot lost control. The airplane nosed over and impacted on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and upper rear fuselage near the bulkhead. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 36 with wind from 060o at 11 knots with gusts to 17 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N179VP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N179VP), registered now, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SMITH MINIPLANE DSA-1 - Registry model: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-miniplane-dsa-1) (registry code 835010A) (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: 1 - Airframe hours: 400 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2020 - Departed: KVLA, Vandalia, IL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KFTT, Elton Hensley Memorial, runway 36, 4,001 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review October 3, 2020; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 570 total, 10 in this make and model, 490 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.41 inHg - Observed at: KCOU, 10 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 20210512008329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210512008329A), May 12, 2021: Smith Miniplane DSA-1, Fulton, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot was landing for fuel on a ferry flight from Ohio to Colorado. Upon landing touchdown was uneventful, after landing, while transitioning to roll out,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103080. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12286068&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12285834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.