# NTSB GAA15CA007: Aviat A1 - B, Afton, WY, March 13, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 13, 2015, 17:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Afton, WY - Coordinates: 42.707778, -110.941947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7078&lon=-110.9419&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 May 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90875 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90875/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90875 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying a cross-country flight under visual flight rules in a tailwheel equipped airplane. During the final approach to a full stop landing, the pilot reported that he flared too high and as a result the airplane bounced and veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder but was unable to stop the airplane from departing the runway to the right. During the runway excursion the airplane impacted a snow pile adjacent to the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported that he typically lands on soft runway surfaces less than 2,000 ft. in length and suspected that his perception during the flare may have been impacted while landing on this 7,025 ft. runway. The pilot did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and the winds were reporting calm during the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. ## Factual narrative The pilot was flying a cross-country flight under visual flight rules in a tailwheel equipped airplane. During the final approach to a full stop landing, the pilot reported that he flared too high and as a result the airplane bounced and veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder but was unable to stop the airplane from departing the runway to the right. During the runway excursion the airplane impacted a snow pile adjacent to the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported that he typically lands on soft runway surfaces less than 2,000 ft. in length and suspected that his perception during the flare may have been impacted while landing on this 7,025 ft. runway. The pilot did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and the winds were reporting calm during the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: C-FTAD (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AVIAT A1 - B (B) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2177 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 701 - Engines: Textron Lycoming 0-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Douglass Miller Tadman - Registered owner: Douglass Miller Tadman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2015, 8 hours before - Departed: GTF, GREAT FALLS, MT - Destination: AFO, AFTON, WY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AFO, Afton Muni, runway 34, 7,025 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,207 total, 449 in this make and model, 1,105 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: AFO ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90875. 401 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Airport Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Right Wing (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Right Wing Strut (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20Wing%20Strut%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.