# NTSB ERA21LA084: Ford Stephen L Super Chief, N706SF, Blountstown, FL, December 9, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 9, 2020, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Blountstown, FL - Coordinates: 30.48703, -85.113785 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4870&lon=-85.1138&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102444 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102444/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102444 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA084 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ford Stephen L SUPER CHIEF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05622N7), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ford Stephen L SUPER CHIEF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05622N7), [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. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Ford Stephen L SUPER CHIEF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05622N7), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was recovering from a recent illness and described that after hand-propping the tailwheel-equipped airplane’s engine to start it, he had become extremely tired. Later during the flight, he realized that he was too tired to continue and returned to the departure airport to land. During the landing he lost control of the airplane. In addition to the landing gear, the airplane’s left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N706SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N706SF), registered now, S/N 1, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FORD STEPHEN L SUPER CHIEF - Registry model: [Ford Stephen L SUPER CHIEF](https://openairdocs.org/model/ford-stephen-l-super-chief) (registry code 05622N7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A-65-8](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-65-8) (registry code 17329, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Year built: 2008 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ford, Stephen L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: F95, Calhoun County, runway 18, 3,730 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 655 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: MAI, 21 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 20201209017179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201209017179A), Dec 9, 2020: Ford Stephen L SUPER CHIEF, Blountstown, FL, Substantial damage. After landing the pilot lost control as the aircraft ground looped. As the pilot attempted to regain control of the aircraft, the left main landing gear broke… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102444. 2.1 MB in all. - Record of conversation with pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11762655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20With%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memo for record_FAA email summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11817241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-FAA%20Email%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11817182&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and airplane damage (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 428 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11816957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.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.