# NTSB ERA11CA311: Southern Airmotive SAC, N1150, Taccoa, GA, May 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2011, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Taccoa, GA - Coordinates: 34.59111, -83.290557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5911&lon=-83.2906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79219/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79219 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA311 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during landing, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with a hangar. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Southern Airmotive SAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0560110), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Southern Airmotive SAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0560110), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Southern Airmotive SAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0560110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Southern Airmotive SAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=0560110), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was landing the experimental tailwheel airplane after flying around the traffic pattern. He stated that he applied rudder to compensate for crosswind gusts on final approach, about 15 feet above the runway. As the airplane touched down, it started to drift toward the right side of the runway. The pilot attempted to correct with left rudder then decided to abort the landing; however, the airplane continued through a grassy area and impacted the side of a hangar causing substantial damage to both wings. Examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was landing the experimental tailwheel airplane after flying around the traffic pattern. He stated that he applied rudder to compensate for crosswind wind gusts on final about 15 feet above the runway. As the airplane touched down, it started to drift toward the right side of the runway. The pilot attempted to correct with left rudder then decided to abort the landing; however, the airplane continued through a grassy area and impacted the side of a hangar causing substantial damage to both wings. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not show evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The nearest weather reporting station about 30 miles southwest of the accident airport, reported wind from 290 degrees gusting to 17 knots at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1150](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1150), registered now, S/N 5306468, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SOUTHERN AIRMOTIVE CORP. SAC (Junior Ace) - Registry model: [Southern Airmotive SAC](https://openairdocs.org/model/southern-airmotive-sac) (registry code 0560110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5306468 - Engines: Continental O-200 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Forman Clifford N - Registered owner: Forman Clifford N - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2011 - Departed: TOC, Taccoa, GA - Destination: TOC, Taccoa, GA - Airport: TOC, Taccoa RG Letourneau, runway 02, 5,008 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: front; flight hours: 1,300 total, 15 in this make and model, 0 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: GVL, 30 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110517010239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110517010239A), May 17, 2011: Southern Airmotive Corp. SAC, Toccoa, GA, Substantial damage. High rate of descent on short final, added power, gusty crosswind at 50' AGL. At touchdown, acft. Veered right, pilot added left rudder, full power, attempted… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79219. 562 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 450 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo of Airplane Damage (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(FAA)-Master.PDF 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.