# NTSB ERA12CA096: Thompson Tommy W Loehle P5151, N212WE, Courtland, AL, December 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 4, 2011, 10:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Courtland, AL - Coordinates: 34.658889, -87.348892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6589&lon=-87.3489&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82449/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82449 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA096 ## Probable cause The airplane's inadvertent encounter with excessive windshear while on the downwind traffic pattern leg at low altitude, which resulted in the pilot's inability to arrest the airplane’s descent. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly the traffic pattern at a low altitude in gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=05610BE), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=05610BE), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05610BE), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=05610BE), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05610BE), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to multiple statements, the seller of the single-seat, amateur-built airplane performed a preflight inspection with the buyer and an evaluation pilot, then he flew a demonstration flight around the traffic pattern at 300 to 400 feet above the ground and made a full-stop landing. The wind was straight down the runway at 10 knots and gusting. The evaluation pilot, who had not previously flown the airplane model, subsequently performed ground checks and taxi practice before taking off and climbing the airplane to about 400 feet. He then turned the airplane onto the crosswind leg and reduced power before turning it onto the downwind leg. After several seconds on the downwind leg, the airplane began to descend. The pilot added full power to arrest the descent; however, the airplane continued descending at full power, dropping almost vertically before impacting the ground in a level attitude, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Terrain elevation about 3 nautical miles upwind of the runway was about 150 feet higher. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane, and all of the statements indicated that the engine was producing full power during the airplane's descent. A witness reported that possible low-level windshear was forecast for the region. Windshear, which is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance, can result in a rapid loss of altitude, even with full engine power applied. ## Factual narrative According to multiple statements, the seller of the single-seat, amateur-built airplane first performed a preflight inspection, along with the buyer and an evaluation pilot, then flew a demonstration flight around the traffic pattern at 300 to 400 feet above the ground to a full stop landing. Winds were straight down the runway at 10 knots, but gusty. The evaluation pilot, who had not previously flown the model, subsequently performed ground checks and taxi practice before taking off and climbing the airplane to about 400 feet. He then turned the airplane onto the crosswind leg, and reduced power before turning it onto the downwind leg. After several seconds on the downwind leg, the airplane began to descend. The pilot added full power to arrest the descent; however, the airplane continued descending at full power, dropping almost vertically before impacting the ground in a level attitude and substantially damaging the wings and fuselage. Terrain elevation about 3 nautical miles upwind of the runway was approximately 150 feet higher. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane, and all of the statements indicated that the engine was producing full power during the airplane's descent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N212WE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N212WE-2017-09-18), registration cancelled 2017-09-18, S/N 150968863P, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THOMPSON TOMMY W LOEHLE P5151 - Registry model: [Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-tommy-w-loehle-p5151) (registry code 05610BE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 150968863P - Airframe hours: 210 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 7, 2009 - Departed: 9A4, Courtland, AL - Destination: 9A4, Courtland, AL - Airport: 9A4, Courtland, runway 17 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3; last flight review June 30, 2011; flight hours: 5,700 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: 9A4 ## 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 20111204028069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111204028069A), Dec 4, 2011: Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151, Courtland, AL, Substantial damage. On December 04,2011, at 1050 CST, an experimental loehle 5151, N212WE, crashed while on a flight in the flight pattern at Courtland Airport, Courtland,… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82449. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Buyer Statement (item 2, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Buyer%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Seller Statement (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Seller%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Excerpt, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 5, .PDF, 695 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt,%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage Overview (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20Overview%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.