# NTSB ERA13CA098: Mckay Gene RV-9A, N281MC, Brunswick, GA, December 26, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 26, 2012, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Brunswick, GA - Coordinates: 31.153055, -81.387779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1531&lon=-81.3878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 3, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85894 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85894/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85894 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA098 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while landing in gusting wind conditions. ## 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: [Mckay Gene RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05620G7), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mckay Gene RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05620G7), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Mckay Gene RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05620G7), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Mckay Gene RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05620G7), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mckay Gene RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05620G7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Mckay Gene RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=05620G7), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis As the pilot and airplane owner approached the destination airport, the pilot received a radio call from another pilot who reported leaving the traffic pattern at the destination airport because of wind conditions. The pilot continued his approach to land on runway 34 but later aborted the landing due to strong crosswind conditions. After obtaining current wind information from the airport’s universal communications frequency, he decided to attempt a landing on runway 22. After the airplane crossed the airport perimeter fence, the airplane’s nose impacted the ground and the airplane subsequently skidded down the left side of the runway before coming to rest. A postcrash fire consumed much of the wreckage with the exception of the empennage and outboard sections of both wings. At the time of the accident, airport ground personnel reported wind from 260 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 26 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane owner and he were returning from a cross country flight. As they approached their destination airport, the pilot received a radio call from an airplane that reported leaving the pattern at the destination airport due to the winds. The pilot continued his approach to land on runway 34; however, he later aborted his landing due to strong crosswinds. After obtaining current winds from the airport’s universal communications frequency, he elected to attempt a landing on runway 22. After the airplane crossed the airport perimeter fence it was struck by a gust of wind. The airplane’s nose impacted the ground and the airplane subsequently skidded down the left side of the runway before coming to rest. A post-crash fire consumed much of the wreckage with the exception of the empennage and outboard sections of both wings. According to a local weather observation facility, the recorded winds at the time of the accident were from 260 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 26 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N281MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N281MC-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 91117, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCKAY GENE RV-9A - Registry model: [Mckay Gene RV-9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mckay-gene-rv-9a) (registry code 05620G7) (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: 91117 - Airframe hours: 510 - Engines: Lycoming 0-360 A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Oswaldo Seda - Registered owner: Oswaldo Seda - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 26, 2012, 34 hours before - Departed: 1R8, Bay Minette, AL - Destination: SSI, Brunswick, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SSI, Malcolm McKinnon Airport, runway 22, 5,584 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 2,050 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,850 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 270° at 13 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: SSI ## 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 20121226028799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121226028799A), Dec 26, 2012: Mckay Gene RV-9A, St. Simons Isla, GA, Destroyed. On December 26 at 1853 this inspector was notified by the regional operations center of an accident at the st Simons airport (kssi) which occurred at 1800 LCL.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85894. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384407&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 4, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 5, .PDF, 794 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Side View of Airplane from Left Wing - Courtesy of FAA (item 6, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384887&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Side%20View%20of%20Airplane%20from%20Left%20Wing%20-%20Courtesy%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.