# NTSB ERA23LA102: Stray Goose Research Aircam, N522EA, Calhoun, GA, January 5, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 5, 2023, 13:19 local (18:19 UTC) - Place: Calhoun, GA - Coordinates: 34.450082, -84.938189 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4501&lon=-84.9382&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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): 106545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106545/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106545 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA102 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent asymmetric throttle application, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll, runway excursion, and collision with ground equipment. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Stray Goose Research AIRCAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=05639H2), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/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: [Stray Goose Research AIRCAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05639H2), [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: [Stray Goose Research AIRCAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639H2), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Stray Goose Research AIRCAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05639H2), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Stray Goose Research AIRCAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05639H2), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing touch-and-go landings, and during the landing roll, he removed his hand from the twin-engine airplane’s throttles to turn off the electrically-powered fuel pumps. As the pilot moved his hand, his sweater sleeve caught on the right throttle handle, the right engine power increased, and the airplane veered off the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the airplane collided with a runway marker sign and visual approach lighting equipment, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot attempted to reduce the right throttle setting, but his sweater was jammed between the throttles, and he ultimately stopped the airplane by shutting down the airplane’s engines. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N522EA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N522EA), registered now, S/N AC-251, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STRAY GOOSE RESEARCH LLC AIRCAM - Registry model: [Stray Goose Research AIRCAM](https://openairdocs.org/model/stray-goose-research-aircam) (registry code 05639H2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AC-251 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 237.2 - Engines: Rotax 912-ULS2 100 horsepower reciprocating; Rotax 912-ULS2 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stray Goose Research LLC - Registered owner: Stray Goose Research LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 2022 - Airport: CZL, Tom B David Fld, runway 35, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 36,000 total, 308 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command, 24.5 in the last 90 days, 17.3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: RMG, 13 nm away - METAR: KRMG 051753Z AUTO 23006G15KT 10SM CLR 14/00 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP189 T01440000 10144 20028 58010 ## 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 20230105011639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230105011639A), Jan 5, 2023: Experimental EXPERIMENTAL, Calhoun, GA, Substantial damage. An Experimental ammature built lockwood aircam with twin Rotax 912ULS engines; landed, taxied and had begun a right turn onto taxiway A2. The PIC with his eyes… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106545. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15110746&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15109950&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.