# NTSB GAA15CA052: Arion Lightning LS-1, N332AL, West Plains, MO, April 21, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 21, 2015, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: West Plains, MO
- Coordinates: 36.884445, -91.902778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8844&lon=-91.9028&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 27, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91100
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91100/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91100
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA052

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing in gusty 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: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060006O), [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 · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that during an approach to landing in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane encountered turbulence about ten feet above the runway and suddenly lost altitude. The airplane landed hard, and collapsed the nose landing gear, then exited the right side of the runway and collapsed the main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of local weather data indicated that there was low level wind shear associated with high based convective activity approximately five miles north of the airport. There were several pilot reports in the area indicating moderate turbulence below 10,000 feet. Additionally, two pilot reports for moderate turbulence below 2,000 feet and low level wind shear were made within an hour of the accident. The National Weather Service issued an Airman's Meteorological Advisory, current at the time of the accident, for turbulence below 10,000 feet.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that during an approach to landing in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane encountered turbulence about ten feet above the runway and suddenly lost altitude. The airplane landed hard, and collapsed the nose landing gear, then exited the right side of the runway and collapsed the main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.A review of local weather data indicated that there was low level wind shear associated with high based convective activity approximately five miles north of the airport. There were several pilot reports in the area indicating moderate turbulence below 10,000 feet. Additionally, two pilot reports for moderate turbulence below 2,000 feet and low level wind shear were made within an hour of the accident. The National Weather Service issued an Airman's Meteorological Advisory, current at the time of the accident, for turbulence below 10,000 feet.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N332AL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N332AL), registered now, S/N 107, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARION AIRCRAFT LLC LIGHTNING LS-1 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/arion-lightning-ls-1) (registry code 060006O) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 107
- Year built: 2010
- Airframe hours: 96
- Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2014
- Departed: SYI, SHELBYVILLE, TN
- Destination: UNO, WEST PLAINS, MO
- Airport: UNO, West Plains Rgnl, runway 18, 5,101 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20 total, 10 in this make and model, 153 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KUNO

## 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 20150421006889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150421006889A), Apr 21, 2015: Arion Aircraft LLC LIGHTNING LS-1, West Plains, MO, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Stated he left shelbyville, TN (ksyi)for a flight to mountain view, MO (kmnf). Weather conditions at the time were VMC and winds were…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91100. 15.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 4 photos, 672 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Left Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20Wing%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Fuselage Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Fuselage%20Damage%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.

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