# NTSB CEN23LA007: Waszak Arthur B Wittman Tailwind W10, N717AB, Waldron, AR, October 6, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 6, 2022, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Waldron, AR - Coordinates: 34.875962, -94.1106 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8760&lon=-94.1106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 106091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106091/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106091 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing resulting in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and hard landing. ## 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: [Waszak Arthur B WITTMAN TAILWIND W10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05632H8), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Waszak Arthur B WITTMAN TAILWIND W10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05632H8), [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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Waszak Arthur B WITTMAN TAILWIND W10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05632H8), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting his first flight in the airplane and practiced some basic stall maneuvers at altitude before attempting to land. During the first attempted landing, the airplane landed hard from about 2 ft above ground level (agl), and the pilot performed a go-around. During the second landing, about 8 ft agl, he reduced engine power and [the airplane] “bottomed out.” He stated the airplane bounced uncontrollably, nosed over, bounced again, spun to the right and flipped over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot’s statement included a recommendation to acquire transition training in a “new to you” airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N717AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N717AB), registered now, S/N 717, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WASZAK ARTHUR B WITTMAN TAILWIND W10 - Registry model: [Waszak Arthur B WITTMAN TAILWIND W10](https://openairdocs.org/model/waszak-arthur-b-wittman-tailwind-w10) (registry code 05632H8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 717 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 5 - Engines: Continental O-300 Ser 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: M27, M27, runway 27, 3,650 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 31.5 in the last 90 days, 18.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KMEZ, 20 nm away - METAR: KMEZ 061715Z AUTO 29010KT 10SM CLR 29/09 A3018 RMK AO2 P0100 T02850090 $ ## 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 20221006015949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221006015949A), Oct 6, 2022: Waszak Arthur B WITTMAN TAILWIND W10, Waldron, AR, Substantial damage. On October 6, 2022 [privacy data omitted], a wittman tailwind W10 was involved in a hard landing at Waldron, AR (M27) that resulted in substantial damage to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106091. 61.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 60.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14606165&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photograph (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14606485&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.