# NTSB ERA12CA248: JDT MiniMax, Gap, PA, March 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 21, 2012, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Gap, PA - Coordinates: 40.030834, -75.998336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0308&lon=-75.9983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83201/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83201 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA248 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-around, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, while approaching a friend’s farm field for landing, he elected to perform a go-around. As he increased pitch to climb, the airplane entered a stall about 200 feet above ground level. He lowered the nose to increase airspeed; however, there was insufficient altitude to recover, and the airplane crashed into a field. The fuselage’s wooden structure fractured in several places, resulting in substantial airframe damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He cited his indecisiveness as a factor. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, while approaching a farm field for landing in his unregistered aircraft, he elected to perform a go-around. As he increased pitch, the aircraft entered a stall about 200 feet above ground level. He lowered the nose to increase airspeed; however, there was insufficient altitude to recover and the aircraft crashed into a field. The wooden structure in the fuselage fractured in several places, resulting in substantial airframe damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight that would have precluded normal operation. He also cited his indecisiveness as a factor. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: JDT MiniMax (NO SERIES) - Category: Ultralight, amateur-built - Serial number: Unk - Airframe hours: 120 - Engines: Rotax 447 45 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2012, 20 hours before - Departed: Ephrata, PA - Destination: Ephrata, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 40 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: LNS, 10 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83201. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 905 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Aircraft Wreckage, Viewed from Left Side (FAA Digital Photo) (item 2, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20Viewed%20from%20Left%20Side%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Aircraft Cockpit, with Structral Damage (FAA Digital Photo) (item 3, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367107&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Aircraft%20Cockpit,%20with%20Structral%20Damage%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-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.