# NTSB GAA16CA121: Glines Kenneth Tailwind W 8, N1983T, Big Bear, CA, January 25, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 24, 2016, 19:30 local (Jan 25, 2016, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Big Bear, CA - Coordinates: 34.263889, -116.856109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2639&lon=-116.8561&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 April 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92694/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92694 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA121 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent landing off the left side of the snow-covered runway, resulting in a ground loop and nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=9790843), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=9790843), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue: lack of sleep](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013510): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot; cases with it: [Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013510/cases.md?model=9790843), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013510/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=9790843), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=9790843), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9790843), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9790843), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during his approach at a non-towered airport at night, he made the descent to what he thought was the runway, but realized that it was actually the taxiway, and "slipped" right, to what he then perceived to be the runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane ground looped and nosed over. The pilot had landed and nosed over in the safety area to the left of the runway. The pilot reported that he had been flying for the preceding 12 hour period, and conceded to having exceeded his personal endurance limitations. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during his approach at a non-towered airport at night, he made the descent to what he thought was the runway, but realized that it was actually the taxiway, and "slipped" right, to what he then perceived to be the runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane ground looped and nosed over. The pilot had landed and nosed over in the safety area to the left of the runway. The pilot reported that he had been flying for the preceding 12 hour period, and conceded to having exceeded his personal endurance limitations. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1983T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1983T), registered now, S/N 306 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GLINES KENNETH TAILWIND W 8 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/glines-kenneth-tailwind-w-8) (registry code 9790843) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 306 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 1192 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-JC1B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Earhart, Robert E - Registered owner: Earhart, Robert E - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 24, 2015 - Departed: SJN, SAINT JOHNS, AZ - Destination: L35, BIG BEAR, CA - Airport: L35, Big Bear City, runway 26, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,034 total, 170 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KL35 ## 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 20160124001499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160124001499A), Jan 24, 2016: Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W-8, Big Bear, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed his aircraft in the snow covered field between the runway and taxiway at Big Bear airport (L35). Aircraft flipped over upon toucdown. One POB, no… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92694. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438138&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%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.