# NTSB CEN21LA471: Just Highlander, N419SD, West Cobb, AR, September 29, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2021, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: West Cobb, AR · 51AR - Byrd's Adventure Center
- Coordinates: 35.677288, -93.732683 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6773&lon=-93.7327&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Little Rock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104045
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA471
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104045/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA471

## Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control, an aerodynamic stall, and a subsequent hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported he departed from the airport to practice a short takeoff and landing (commonly known as “STOL”) race circuit in preparation for a race that was going to occur at the airport. As the pilot was on approach for landing, he noticed the wind speed had increased while he was turning base to final at 60 ft agl. The pilot had a 16-mph buffer above the airplane’s aerodynamic stall speed, with two notches of flaps applied, and a 15° bank turn. The airplane was then “hit by a gust” that elevated the right wing to about 30° of bank. The pilot attempted to correct the high bank angle with no success. He reported “all of my lift disappeared,” and the airplane became uncontrollable at about 55 ft agl. The pilot concluded that a “large tail wind shear” aerodynamically stalled the airplane, and he was unable to recover at the low altitude with the various obstacles and structures present on the STOL race circuit course. The airplane “pancaked” and came to rest upright in a field, next to a fence line. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of meteorological data showed that gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear were likely present in the area at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N419SD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N419SD-2023-08-26), registration cancelled 2023-08-26, S/N JAESC0129, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JUST AIRCRAFT LLC HIGHLANDER (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Just HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/just-highlander) (registry code 05901Z3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912S series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (registry code 55570, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JAESC0129
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 1247
- Engines: ROTAX 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, August 11, 2021
- Airport: 51AR, Byrd'S Backcountry Airstrip, runway 07/25, 2,500 × 30 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 14, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,500 total, 400 in this make and model, 4,900 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KFYV, 29 nm away
- METAR: KFYV 291853Z 20007KT 170V240 10SM BKN044 29/18 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP117 T02890178

## 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 20210929016849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210929016849A), Sep 29, 2021: Just Aircraft LLC HIGHLANDER, Ozark, AR, Substantial damage. On September 29, 2021 at 1400 CST, a Highlander, experimental-operating light sport aircraft by Just Aircraft LLC, N419SD, was practicing for a short take off…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104045. 11.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12960850&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12960667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Additional documents (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 320 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12960588&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Additional%20Documents%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather factual report (item 4, PDF, 10 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12991413&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN21LA471_weatherfactualSuffernfinal-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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