# NTSB CEN21LA344: Weiss Denis Sparrow II, N725DW, Oshkosh, WI, July 30, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2021, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Oshkosh, WI
- Coordinates: 43.969906, -88.562572
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9699&lon=-88.5626&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA344
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103593/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103593
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA344

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing, a loss of control, and runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Weiss Denis SPARROW II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=056193D), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Weiss Denis SPARROW II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=056193D), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weiss Denis SPARROW II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056193D), [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-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Weiss Denis SPARROW II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056193D), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Weiss Denis SPARROW II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056193D), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during landing on a grass runway, the airplane first bounced about 5 ft high, then bounced a few more times as it neared the end of the runway. The pilot added that he did not have enough remaining runway to complete a go-around, so he applied the brakes, but they did not work. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and impacted a small ditch and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. A postaccident examination of the brake system revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N725DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N725DW-2022-11-05), registration cancelled 2022-11-05, S/N CA3-323, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WEISS DENIS SPARROW II
- Registry model: [Weiss Denis SPARROW II](https://openairdocs.org/model/weiss-denis-sparrow-ii) (registry code 056193D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CA3-323
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 300
- Engines: Rotax 81 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pickens William Dale
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2020
- Airport: OSH, Wittman Rgnl, runway 05L/23R, 1,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Video recording device, Data recorder, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review April 13, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,800 total, 250 in this make and model, 14 in the last 30 days, 4.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: KOSH, 1 nm away
- METAR: KOSH 301453Z 03010KT 10SM CLR 19/11 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP222 T01890106 51008

## 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 20210730012219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210730012219A), Jul 30, 2021: Weiss Denis SPARROW II, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. During landing, the aircraft landed long and porpoised several times before hitting a ditch at the end of the runway breaking the nose gear, right main gear,…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103593. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 843 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12547108&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Correspondence (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12551688&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROCs%20-%20all-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12734812&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=-%20Photos-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.

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