# NTSB ERA12CA272: Wielt Great Lakes 2T-1A, N211RW, Warwarsing, NY, April 5, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 5, 2012, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Warwarsing, NY - Coordinates: 41.833332, -74.483329 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8333&lon=-74.4833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83327 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83327/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83327 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA272 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during low level maneuvering flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane with no anomalies noted. The purpose of the flight was to circle over a friend's property and return to the departure airport. The pilot said that, as he began the first turn to circle the property, he waved to his friends on the ground; he did not recall anything after he initiated that turn. According to a witness, as the airplane began to turn, it lost altitude and descended at a 45-degree angle until it struck a tree and then the ground. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane with no anomalies noted. The purpose of the flight was to circle around a friend's property and return to the departure airport. As the pilot began the first turn to circle the property, he waved to his friends and did not recall anything following the initiated turn. According to a witness, as the airplane began to turn, it lost altitude and descended at a 45 degree angle until it struck a tree and then the ground. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident sequence. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N211RW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: WIELT GREAT LAKES 2T-1A - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6803K-386 - Airframe hours: 660 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas Mark R - Registered owner: Thomas Mark R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 24, 2011 - Departed: 2NK9, Modena, NY - Destination: 2NK9, Modena, NY - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 13, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,502 total, 95 in this make and model, 1,374 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: MGJ, 12 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 20120405006539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120405006539A), Apr 5, 2012: Wielt GREAT LAKES 2T-1A, Wawasing, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot crashed aircraft into trees resulting in nose down ground impact in yard of residential area following performance of low altitude (approx 1000 ft AGL)… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83327. 9.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367504&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Police Report and Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report%20and%20Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - MGJ Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367501&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=MGJ%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record: Pilot (item 5, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%3A%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%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.