# NTSB DEN08CA164: Bice David E Bearhawk, N1685, Double Eagle Airport, NM, September 27, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 27, 2008, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Double Eagle Airport, NM - Coordinates: 35.145, -106.794998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1450&lon=-106.7950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69245 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69245/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA164 ## Probable cause The pilot flared high and failed to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's unfamiliarity with the airplane and the crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bice David E BEARHAWK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05623OC), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a visual approach, the private pilot recognized a quartering crosswind for the landing runway. The pilot elected to continue the landing for experience since he had only nine previous landings in this airplane. According to the pilot "I either flared high or allowed the airplane to balloon up after the flare. The airplane dropped maybe three feet after the stall, and after the bounce, it came back to the runway in a slight crab." The pilot attempted to correct for the drift, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway and ground looped. The pilot was not injured. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right gear had collapsed and the right wing spar had bent. ## Factual narrative During a visual approach, the private pilot recognized a quartering crosswind for the landing runway. The pilot elected to continue the landing for experience since he had only nine previous landings in this airplane. According to the pilot "I either flared high or allowed the airplane to balloon up after the flare. The airplane dropped maybe three feet after the stall, and after the bounce, it came back to the runway in a slight crab." The pilot attempted to correct for the drift, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway and ground looped. The pilot was not injured. Examination of the airplane revealed the right gear collapsed and the right wing spar bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1685](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1685), registered now, S/N 030-53/54-704, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BICE DAVID E BEARHAWK - Registry model: [Bice David E BEARHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/bice-david-e-bearhawk) (registry code 05623OC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 030-53/54-704 - Engines: Lycoming 0-360 EXP 170 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bice David E - Registered owner: Bice David E - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: aeg, Double Eagle Ai, NM - Destination: AEG, Double Eagle, NM - Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II Airport, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,179 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,156 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080927849679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080927849679A), Sep 27, 2008: Biceda BEARHAWK, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 27, 2008 at approximately 1100 local time, the pilot and sole occupant of N1685, a bice david e. model Bearhawk airplane, veered to the… ## Other investigations on N1685 (2) 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. - [NTSB WPR24LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA128), Apr 20, 2024: Bearhawk 4-Place (N1685), Buckhorn, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inflight loss of control during landing following an encounter with a wind gust which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB GAA18CA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA206), Apr 10, 2018: Bice David E Bearhawk (N1685), Edgewood, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. 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.