Aviat A-1 N6QR accident, Kaycee, WY, Oct 21, 2005 · NTSB DEN06LA005

Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

the pilot's improper decision to attempt a go-around and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the hard landing.

Analysis

According to the passenger, during the landing, the touchdown was "hard" and they bounced several times; however, they "maintained centered on the runway." He stated that the pilot "decided to take off" and added power. The airplane "pulled left [off] of center, putting a tree in [their] path." The passenger stated that the pilot pulled the power back and pulled the nose of the airplane up "into a steep climb, stalling the [air]plane." The airplane impacted in a left wing low attitude, followed by the nose of the airplane, causing substantial damage. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.

Factual narrative

On October 21, 2005, approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, an Aviat A-1, N6QR, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while landing at the TTT Ranch, 15 miles southwest of Kaycee, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. The cross-country flight departed Casper, Wyoming (CPR), approximately 1400.

According to a statement submitted by the passenger, he and his father (private pilot) departed CPR for the TTT Ranch. The passenger stated that during the landing, the touchdown was "hard" and they bounced several times; however, they "maintained centered on the runway." He stated that the pilot "decided to take off" and added power. The airplane "pulled left [off] of center, putting a tree in [their] path." The passenger stated that the pilot pulled the power back and pulled the nose of the airplane up "into a steep climb, stalling the [air]plane." The airplane impacted in a left wing low attitude, followed by the nose of the airplane.

According to the FAA inspector who traveled to the scene, a 50-foot ground scar preceded the main wreckage. The right wing separated forward from the fuselage, and the outboard tip of the wing was wrinkled. The left wing remained attached and was bent up approximately 20 degrees at midspan. The left main landing gear assembly was folded aft, the propeller separated at the propeller flange, and the engine cowling and firewall were wrinkled. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

Due to the pilot's injuries, he was unable to submit a written or verbal statement at the time of this report. A spokesperson for the pilot stated that he experienced a small heart attack on the day of the accident; however, they were unable to determine if the heart attack was prior to, during, or after the accident

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.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)

In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause

Go-around - attemptedPilot in command

Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Terrain condition - ground

Aircraft

Registration: N6QR
Reported as: Aviat A-1
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 1384
Airframe hours: 417
Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · March 1, 2005 · 21 hours before
Departed: CPR · Casper, WY
Destination: Kaycee, WY
Airport: TTT Ranch Co., runway 27, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf

N6QRRegistration cancelled Feb 9, 2006 · Aviat A-1S/N 1384 · Built 1997 Airframe modelAviat A-1 Engine modelLycoming 0-360-A1DReciprocating

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: 76
Injuries: Serious
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Medical: Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review: September 1, 2005
Seat: Front
Flight hours: 6,809 total · 138 in this make and model · 5,717 as pilot in command · 69 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 300° at 6 knots
Visibility: 10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
Observed at: CPR, 48 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.

Accident 20051021026059AChris A1 · Kaycee, WY(-23) During landing on a hay field the pilot-in-command [privacy data omitted] attempted a go-around, the aircraft stalled which caused substantial damage to the aircraft.Oct 21, 2005 · N6QR · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N6QR · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA02CA177Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCherry Point, NCthe pilot misjudged the landing flare, resulting in a hard landing, an inadvertent ground loop, and the subsequent impact with the runway.Sep 21, 2002 · Substantial damage