- Date
- September 24, 2010, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Bealeton, VA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N65648Boeing A75N1
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100924055479A
- Case key
- 77393
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 under instruction’s improper recovery from a bounced landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a ground loop and collision with trees.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), the purpose of the flight was for the pilot under instruction (PUI) to conduct airwork and grass field landings. The PUI was seated in the rear seat and the CFI was seated in the front seat. The PUI stated that the CFI was on the flight controls in conjunction with him since it was going to be his first landing on a grass strip. The CFI stated that he advised the PUI that the PUI had authority over the flight controls to which he received an acknowledgement. On the first touchdown, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced and became airborne, then touched down a second time. After the second touchdown, when the airplane began turning to the right, the flight instructor took over authority of the flight controls and applied left rudder, which was ineffective. The airplane then ground-looped 90 degrees and struck a cluster of trees. Post-accident examination revealed that the airplane incurred damage to both lower wings. Both pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
According to the flight instructor, the flight departed to conduct airwork and grass field landings. The pilot under instruction was seated in the rear seat, and the flight instructor was seated in the front seat. The pilot under instruction stated that the flight instructor was on the flight controls at the same time since it was going to be his first landing on a grass strip. However, the flight instructor stated that he advised the pilot under instruction, “you have the controls,” and received acknowledgement. On the first touchdown to runway 28, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced and became airborne, then touched down a second time. After the second touchdown, when the airplane began turning to the right, the flight instructor “got on the controls” and added left rudder, which was “ineffective.” The airplane then ground-looped 90 degrees and struck a clump of spruce trees. Post-accident examination revealed that the airplane incurred damage to both lower wings. Neither pilot reported any preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane, and winds were reported as being from 200 degrees true at 7 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N65648
- Reported as
- Boeing A75N1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-972
- Airframe hours
- 3,985
- Engine
- Continental W670-6N, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Pegasus Air LLC
- Registered owner
- Pegasus Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 10, 2010
- Departed
- HEF · Manassas, VA
- Destination
- 29VA · Bealton, VA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 29VA · Rhynalds Ranch Airport, runway 28, 2,500 × 120 ft, grass/turf
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 87
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 22, 2009
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 20,995 total · 60 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 26, 2010
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 665 total · 13 in this make and model · 588 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- HWY, 4 nm away
Docket · 7
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.