# NTSB CEN21LA370: Marlowe Thooft Just Acft Highlander, N234HW, Brainerd, MN, August 7, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 7, 2021, 14:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Brainerd, MN
- Coordinates: 46.3527, -94.202 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3527&lon=-94.2020&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: Federal Aviation Administration; Minneapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA370
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103684/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103684
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA370

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing that resulted in an impact with terrain.

## 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: [Marlowe Thooft JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05632AJ), [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: [Marlowe Thooft JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05632AJ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Marlowe Thooft JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05632AJ), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Marlowe Thooft JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05632AJ), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Marlowe Thooft JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05632AJ), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Marlowe Thooft JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05632AJ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was flying an approach in a 90-degree, 20 knot crosswind, when during the landing on the grass runway, the wind pushed the airplane sideways and it subsequently impacted the terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. 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 wind was 080o at 8 knots with gusts to 17 knots. The pilot reported he was attempting to make a short field landing and was “flying below stall speed”.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N234HW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N234HW), registered now, S/N JA262-03-12, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MARLOWE THOOFT JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER
- Registry model: [Marlowe Thooft JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/marlowe-thooft-just-acft-highlander) (registry code 05632AJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (registry code 55569, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JA262-03-12
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 911
- Engines: ROTAX 912 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 26, 2021
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: BRD, Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review April 26, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,350 total, 908 in this make and model, 1,275 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: BRD

## 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 20210807013499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210807013499A), Aug 7, 2021: Marlowe Thooft JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, Brainerd, MN, Substantial damage. 2021-08-07 0945, N234HW experimental just aircraft highlander, during landing left wing impacted ground. While performing in the 2021 [privacy data omitted]…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103684. 70.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 69.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13273938&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo log (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13273879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.