- Date
- September 3, 2000, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Laramie, WY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N63FEAviat A-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000903013299A
- Case key
- 50177
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 failure to maintain directional control. A factor was his improper inflight decision in selecting a less-than-favorable runway on which to land that resulted in a ground loop.
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 was attempting to land on runway 30. Recorded wind was 200 degrees at 14 knots. Directional control was lost and the airplane 'ground looped and tipped upside down.' According to Aviat Aircraft, Inc., the A-1's maximum demonstrated crosswind component is 15 mph (13 knots). Consulting the Crosswind Component Chart, it was determined that the pilot was confronted with an almost direct left crosswind (10 degree left quartering tailwind). Under these circumstances, there was a tailwind component of 2 knots and a crosswind component of 13 knots, less than the maximum crosswind component specified by the manufacturer. In addition to runways 12-30, the airport has a second, and longer, runway: 03-21. Landing on runway 21 would have presented a 10 degree left crosswind, and would have provided a 13 knot headwind component and a 2 knot crosswind component.
Factual narrative
On September 3, 2000, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, an Aviat A-1, N63FE, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at Laramie Regional Airport, Laramie, Wyoming. The private pilot and sole occupant received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Jackson, Wyoming, approximately 0900.
The pilot stated that he was attempting a landing on runway 30 with a left crosswind. Recorded wind was 200 degrees at 14 knots. The pilot said he lost control and the airplane "ground looped and tipped upside down." The airplane came to a rest in the center of the runway.
According to Aviat Aircraft, Inc., the A-1's maximum demonstrated crosswind component is 15 mph (13 knots). Consulting the Crosswind Component Chart, it was determined that the pilot was attempting to land with an almost direct left crosswind (10 degree left quartering tailwind). These circumstances provided a tailwind component of 2 knots and a crosswind component of 13 knots, less than the maximum crosswind component specified by the manufacturer.
In addition to runways 12-30, Laramie Regional Airport has a second, and longer, runway: 03-21. Landing on runway 21 would have presented a 10 degree left crosswind, and would have provided a 13 knot headwind component and a 2 knot crosswind component (see Crosswind Component Chart).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N63FE
- Reported as
- Aviat A-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1225
- Airframe hours
- 480
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-C1G, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard H. Skjerven
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 13, 2000 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- JAC · Jackson, WY
- Destination
- LAR
- Airport
- LAR · Laramie, runway 30, 6,300 × 100 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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 271 total · 239 in this make and model · 23 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.