- Date
- July 30, 1996, 19:45 local (Jul 31, 1996, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Bancroft, WI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1768SRockwell S-2D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 4, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960730020279A
- Case key
- 10332
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground swerve, encounter with soft/sandy terrain, and a subsequent noseover. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's selection of the wrong runway, and the resultant tailwind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot landed on runway 18 with a tailwind from 340 degrees at 6 gusting 11 knots. He reported that the airplane veered to the right and existed the runway. The pilot tried to correct the airplane, but was not successful. The airplane then encountered a soft sandy shoulder and nosed over.
Factual narrative
On July 30, 1996, at 1945 central daylight time (cdt), a Rockwell S-2D, N1768S, registered to Farmer's Flying Service, Inc., of Bancroft, Wisconsin, was substantially damaged following a loss of control and nose over during the landing roll on a private airstrip in Bancroft, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Bancroft, Wisconsin, exact time unknown.
According to the pilot's written statement, while landing on runway 18, with a tailwind, the pilot could not keep the tail wheel down on the ground as the airplane veered to the right side of the runway. The pilot said he tried to turn left but the airplane exited the right side of the runway about mid-field and encountered a soft sandy shoulder. The airplane then nosed over. At fifty five minutes before the accident, Central Wisconsin Airport reported winds from 340 degrees at 6 knots with gusts to 11 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1768S
- Reported as
- Rockwell S-2D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 600-1415D
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 1,340 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Farmer'S Fly Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Airport
- Private Airstrip, runway 18, 2,000 × 10 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 420 total · 74 in this make and model · 330 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 6 knots, gusting 11
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CWA, 32 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.