# NTSB CHI04CA211: Stamsta Wittman Tailwind W10, N917WT, Waunakee, WI, August 1, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 31, 2004, 19:30 local (Aug 1, 2004, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Waunakee, WI - Coordinates: 43.178611, -89.451385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1786&lon=-89.4514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59950 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59950/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA211 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed during final approach, which resulted in the inadvertent stall/mush at a low altitude and subsequent hard landing. A factor to the accident was the pilot's unsuccessful remedial action to the encountered stall/mush at a low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - not successful, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear - collapsed ## Analysis The airplane stalled while on short final approach, which resulted in a hard landing. The pilot reported that when he turned onto final approach the airplane was positioned about 500 feet above ground level (agl) with an airspeed indication of 80 miles/hour. The pilot stated that he noticed the airplane was too high while he crossed-over the approach end of the runway and that the "airspeed was at stall [speed]." The pilot stated he responded by lowering the aircraft's nose and increasing engine power. The pilot reported the increase of engine power "did not respond until nearly on the runway." The pilot stated the airplane "landed hard" and the main landing gear collapsed. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2004, at 1930 central daylight time, an amateur-built Stamsta Wittman Tailwind W10, N917WT, built and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged while attempting to land on runway 27 (2,223 feet by 30 feet, dry asphalt) at the Waunakee Airport (6P3), Waunakee, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed 6P3 at 1830. The pilot reported that when he turned onto final approach the airplane was positioned about 500 feet above ground level (agl) with an airspeed indication of 80 miles/hour. The pilot stated that he noticed the airplane was too high while he crossed-over the approach end of the runway and that the "airspeed was at stall [speed]." The pilot stated he responded by lowering the aircraft's nose and increasing engine power. The pilot reported the increase of engine power "did not respond until nearly on the runway." The pilot stated the airplane "landed hard" and the main landing gear collapsed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N917WT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N917WT), registered now, S/N 00-1170, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stamsta Wittman Tailwind W10 - Registry model: [Stamsta David WITTMAN TAILWIND W10](https://openairdocs.org/model/stamsta-david-wittman-tailwind-w10) (registry code 056143W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 00-1170 - Airframe hours: 200 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2004, 13.5 hours before - Departed: 6P3, Waunakee, WI - Destination: 6P3, Waunakee, WI - Airport: 6P3, Waunakee Airport, runway 27, 2,223 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 20, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 574 total, 201 in this make and model, 523 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MSN, 6 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 20040731028399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040731028399A), Jul 31, 2004: Amtr TAILWIND, Waunakee, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 31, 2004, at 2030, local time, I was notified that a wittman Tailwind, N917WT (an experimental aircraft) had crashed while attempting to land at… 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.