- Date
- October 4, 2015, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lincoln, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2RGGrosch Starduster TOO SA 30
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 17, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Sacramento FSDO (FAA)
- FAA report
- 20151004018409A
- Case key
- 92143
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop, left main landing gear collapse, and the left wing striking the runway.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, he lost directional control and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main landing gear collapsed, the left wing impacted the runway, and the airplane stopped on the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. About the time of the accident at the airport, the wind was reported as 250 degrees true at 3 knots. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, he lost directional control and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main landing gear collapsed, the left wing impacted the runway, and the airplane stopped on the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. About the time of the accident at the airport, the wind was reported as 250 degrees true at 3 knots. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2RG
- Reported as
- Grosch Starduster TOO SA 30 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 563
- Built
- 2015
- Airframe hours
- 12
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · August 19, 2015
- Departed
- LHM · Lincoln, CA
- Destination
- LHM · Lincoln, CA
- Airport
- LHM · Lincoln Rgnl/Karl Harder Field, runway 15, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 83
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 6, 2014
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 622 total · 10 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.59 inHg
- Observed at
- KLHM
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 990 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2RG · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.