# NTSB ERA24LA004: Michael J Wright SA300, N27MW, Georgetown, KY, October 8, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 8, 2023, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, KY · On airport - Coordinates: 38.234434, -84.434684 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2344&lon=-84.4347&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): 193209 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193209/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193209 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll in gusting a gusting crosswind, resulting in a runway excursion and nose over. ## 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: [Michael J Wright SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05633DY), [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: [Michael J Wright SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05633DY), [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; cases with it: [Michael J Wright SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05633DY), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Michael J Wright SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05633DY), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: [Michael J Wright SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05633DY), [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: [Michael J Wright SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05633DY), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Michael J Wright SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05633DY), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was returning to his home airport after a local flight and the reported wind was from 300° at 9 knots with gusts to 13 knots. He performed a low approach to runway 3 with a direct crosswind. He remained in the traffic pattern for another approach to runway 3. After an uneventful touchdown and initial rollout, with the throttle at idle, the airplane began to veer to the left. He countered with right rudder and was able to maintain his track throughout most of the landing roll. Near the end of the rollout, while still on the paved surface, the airplane veered left more abruptly, and the right wingtip touched the runway. The airplane then departed the runway to the left and nosed over into the grass. The pilot egressed the airplane without injury. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the upper wing, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27MW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27MW), registered now, S/N M001W, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MICHAEL J WRIGHT SA300 - Registry model: [Michael J Wright SA300](https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-j-wright-sa300) (registry code 05633DY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-C1D6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-c1d6) (registry code 41834, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M001W - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 194 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 200 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 5, 2023, 9 hours before - Airport: 27K, Georgetown-Scott County, runway 3, 5,498 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2022; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 325 total, 100 in this make and model, 270 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: K27K - METAR: K27K 082055Z AUTO 26010G17KT 10SM BKN055 BKN070 OVC085 13/01 A2993 RMK AO1 ## 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 20231008015759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231008015759A), Oct 8, 2023: Michael J Wright SA300, Georgetown, KY, Substantial damage. On October 8, 2023, an aircraft [privacy data omitted] was performing touch and go landings at Georgetown-Scott county regional airport (27K) when it… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193209. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16512024&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's written statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 845 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16511865&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Pilot%20Written%20Statement-Rel.pdf - FAA record of telephone call - pilot (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16512101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20FAA%20Record%20of%20Telephone%20Call%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 930 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16511078&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Investigation%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.