# NTSB DEN87LA202: Rushton Sophwith Camel, Carrington, ND, July 31, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 30, 1987, 19:00 local (Jul 31, 1987, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Carrington, ND
- Coordinates: 47.449291, -99.119407 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4493&lon=-99.1194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17287
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17287/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA202

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with weather, taxi - from landing
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (cause)
- Nose over, taxi - from landing

## Analysis

THE CANADIAN PRIVATE PLT MADE AN UNSCHEDULED FUEL STOP WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. DURING TAXI FROM LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A STRONG GUSTING CROSSWIND. THE LEFT WING LIFTED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGNAT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: RUSHTON SOPHWITH CAMEL (SOPHWITH C)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: C1
- Airframe hours: 70
- Engines: WARNER 165 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Don Rushton
- Registered owner: Donald W Rushton
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1987, 70 hours before
- Departed: MOT, MINOT, ND
- Destination: OSH, OSHKOSH, WI
- Airport: 46D, Carrington-Mathery, runway 13, 3,813 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,270 total, 70 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 30 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

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.

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