# NTSB ERA15CA118: Dayton A Babcock Storm, N516VB, Eustis, FL, January 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 2, 2015, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Eustis, FL - Coordinates: 28.843334, -81.629997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8433&lon=-81.6300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90685 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90685/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90685 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate spacing from the preceding aircraft during a formation landing, resulting in an inadvertent "prop wash" encounter, loss of control, and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dayton A Babcock STORM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0563136), [All aircraft, 3,101 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. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aircraft wake turb encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/361); cases with it: [Dayton A Babcock STORM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/361/sequence.md?model=0563136), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/361/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Dayton A Babcock STORM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0563136), [All aircraft, 5,010 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Dayton A Babcock STORM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0563136), [All aircraft, 1,515 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of a local formation flight, the flight of weight-shift-control aircraft returned to their home airport and entered the traffic pattern. During the landing flare, the accident pilot encountered the "prop wash" of the preceding aircraft, which resulted in his aircraft entering an uncommanded right bank. The pilot attempted to counteract the turn by applying a left banking control input, but the left main landing gear and nose landing gear impacted the ground, and further aggravated the turn. The nose landing gear then collapsed and dug into the soft turf runway, and the aircraft overturned to the right, where it came to rest on its right side. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airframe had been substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures or the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation, and when asked how the accident might have been prevented, the pilot stated, "…I could have performed (possibly) a go-around." ## Factual narrative At the conclusion of a local formation flight, the flight of weight-shift-control aircraft returned to their home airport and entered the traffic pattern. During the landing flare, the accident pilot encountered the "prop wash" of the preceding aircraft, which resulted in his aircraft entering an uncommanded right bank. The pilot attempted to counteract the turn by applying a left banking control input, but the left main landing gear and nose landing gear impacted the ground, and further aggravated the turn. The nose landing gear then collapsed and dug into the soft turf runway, and the aircraft overturned to the right, where it came to rest on its right side. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airframe had been substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures or the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation, and when asked how the accident might have been prevented, the pilot stated, "…I could have performed (possibly) a go-around." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N516VB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N516VB), registered now, S/N TTS61 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DAYTON A BABCOCK STORM - Registry model: [Dayton A Babcock STORM](https://openairdocs.org/model/dayton-a-babcock-storm) (registry code 0563136) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Suzuki G13BB](https://openairdocs.org/engine/suzuki-g13bb) (registry code 59305, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift, amateur-built - Serial number: TTS61 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 25 - Engines: Suzuki G13B 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lake Hoppers Air Adventures, Inc. - Registered owner: Lake Hoppers Air Adventures, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 12, 2014, 25 hours before - Departed: X55, Eustis, FL - Destination: X55, Eustis, FL - Airport: X55, Mid Florida Air Service, runway 36, 3,200 × 80 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 9, 2014; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 15,000 total, 350 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 211 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 10 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 20150102000479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150102000479A), Jan 2, 2015: Dayton A Babcock STORM, Eustis, FL, Substantial damage. On January 2nd 2015 about 1730 local time, an experimental amateur built, weight shift control trike was substantially damaged during its flare maneuver at mid… ## Other investigations on N516VB (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA16LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA305), Aug 20, 2016: Dayton A Babcock Storm (N516VB), Eustis, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the loss of engine power due to a malfunctioning alternator, which precipitated the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90685. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429328&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Damage to Forward Portion of the Aircraft (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Damage%20to%20Forward%20Portion%20of%20the%20Aircraft%20(Photo%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.