# NTSB ERA22LA240: New Glasair Glastar, N171JV, Beckley, WV, May 21, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 21, 2022, 14:40 UTC
- Place: Beckley, WV · runway excursion into a hill
- Coordinates: 37.787333, -81.124167 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7873&lon=-81.1242&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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): 105130
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105130/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105130
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA240

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane 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: [Eastabrooks John T GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05627TH), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Eastabrooks John T GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05627TH), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: [Eastabrooks John T GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05627TH), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Eastabrooks John T GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05627TH), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Eastabrooks John T GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05627TH), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot was attempting to land on the runway in gusty wind conditions. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and it climbed back into the air and yawed. The pilot increased engine power and added right rudder input in an attempt to correct the airplane’s heading, but the airplane subsequently departed the runway surface and struck an embankment. During the excursion the empennage separated from the fuselage and the landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N171JV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N171JV-2023-02-25), registration cancelled 2023-02-25, S/N 5916, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NEW GLASAIR GLASTAR
- Registry model: [Eastabrooks John T GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/eastabrooks-john-t-glastar) (registry code 05627TH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Superior O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-o-360-series) (registry code 59250, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 5916
- Year built: 2010
- Airframe hours: 331
- Engines: SUPERIOR O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rodes Everett Jerome
- Registered owner: Rodes Everett Jerome
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 23, 2022, 1 hours before
- Departed: PVT, Dawswon, WV
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: BKW, Raleigh County Memorial Airport, runway 28, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 27, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 317 total, 11 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: BKW
- METAR: METAR KBKW 211451Z AUTO 24008G17KT 10SM CLR 26/16 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02560161 51009=

## 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 20220521008169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220521008169A), May 21, 2022: Eastabrooks John T GLASTAR, Beckley, WV, Substantial damage. May 21, 2022 - flight from private airfield to bkw Raleigh County Memorial Airport. Details obtained from PIC statement. Approx. 0900 preflight conducted.…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105130. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14055666&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%20from%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspectors statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 381 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14925268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Photo array_airplane damage and accident site (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 871 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14924351&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.

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