# NTSB ERA18LA019: Maurer Elmo A V Star SA900, N21EM, Erwinna, PA, November 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 2017, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Erwinna, PA - Coordinates: 40.483055, -75.10028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4831&lon=-75.1003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96305/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96305 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA019 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing. ## 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: [Maurer Elmo A V-STAR SA900, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8660811), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maurer Elmo A V-STAR SA900, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=8660811), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maurer Elmo A V-STAR SA900, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8660811), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. A witness reported that he saw the airplane depart and then return about 30 minutes later. During the landing, the airplane "cartwheeled," which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that he did could not remember the landing. The pilot added that a postaccident check of the flight controls revealed that they were functioning normally. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot lost airplane control during landing. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 2017, about 1400 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built V-Star SA9000, N21EM, collided with terrain during landing at Vansant Airport (9N1), Erwinna, Pennsylvania. The private pilot was seriously injured. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91.A witness stated he saw the accident airplane depart, and about thirty minutes later he saw the airplane approach the airport from the east. He initially saw the airplane in a normal flight attitude over the runway before it disappeared briefly behind rolling terrain. Then he saw the left wing, then the right wing, followed by the tail, he described it as a "cartwheeling" motion. He did not report hearing any strange sounds being emitted by the airplane on the takeoff or landing, nor did he see any smoke or objects falling from the airplane. The pilot stated he was practicing takeoffs and landings. He recalled one circuit around the pattern, then waking up suspended in the airplane by his restraints. He did not believe there was a mechanical problem with the airplane and reported that, "all control surfaces were operational after [the] accident." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the fuselage came to rest on its nose, and the tail was resting against tree branches. The engine was separated from the airframe, but the airplane remained largely intact. The left wing and forward fuselage were substantially damaged. The single-seat, bi-wing airplane was manufactured in 1980 and was equipped with a Lycoming O-290, 140-horsepower reciprocating engine. Its most recent condition inspection was completed on September 19, 2017. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a glider rating, and a sport pilot endorsement for airplane single engine land. He reported 700 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate, which was issued on November 23, 1983. The weather conditions reported at the Doyelstown Airport (DYL), Doylestown, Pennsylvania, about 9 miles south of the accident site, included wind from 230° at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 21° C, dew point 14° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.04 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21EM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21EM-2019-10-18), registration cancelled 2019-10-18, S/N 109, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAURER ELMO A V STAR SA900 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Maurer Elmo A V-STAR SA900](https://openairdocs.org/model/maurer-elmo-a-v-star-sa900) (registry code 8660811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 109 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 1584 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 19, 2017 - Departed: 9N1, Erwinna, PA - Destination: 9N1, Erwinna, PA - Airport: 9N1, Vansant, runway 25, 3,058 × 120 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: serious; private; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2017; seat: center; flight hours: 700 total, 250 in this make and model, 670 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KDYL, 9 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 20171103019049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171103019049A), Nov 3, 2017: Maurer Elmo A V-STAR SA900, Erwinna, PA, Destroyed. The airman stated that he was doing practice takeoff and landings. The airman remembers doing one take off and landing. The next thing the airman remembers is… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96305. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 5 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF, 821 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-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.