# NTSB GAA16CA315: Seela Gerald L Glasair SH 2F, N666GJ, State College, PA, June 8, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 8, 2016, 13:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: State College, PA - Coordinates: 40.849166, -77.848609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8492&lon=-77.8486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93382 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93382/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93382 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA315 ## Probable cause The pilot's hard landing in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's unfamiliarity with the newly purchased airplane's throttle resulting in an unstable approach, and the pilot's ability to compensate for the wind. ## 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: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 810 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 1,201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 1,201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 1,014 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-flare/touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056558U), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was returning to his home airport after purchasing the accident airplane, but prior to returning home, the pilot had received a two hour checkout in the airplane. Upon arrival, the weather had deteriorated, rain made it hard to see and the wind was gusting. The pilot reported that he had to go around during the first landing due to the wind. He reported that during the second landing he undercompensated for the wind and the airplane landed hard, bounced and touched down again off the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that during both approaches he had trouble manipulating the throttle; it appeared to stick and unstick at times making engine performance and power application erratic, resulting in an unstabilized approach, and compensation for the gusting wind difficult. The wind at the airport at the time of the accident was reported as 310 degrees true, 18 knots, with gusts to 35 knots. The pilot landed runway 24, and reported that he should have chosen another airport with a crosswind runway. Further, following the accident, the pilot realized that he was not familiar enough with the airplane's Vernier type throttle, as his past experience was with a lever type throttle. An FAA inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported that the Vernier throttle operated normally. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was returning to his home airport after purchasing the accident airplane, but prior to returning home, the pilot had received a two hour checkout in the airplane. Upon arrival, the weather had deteriorated, rain made it hard to see and the wind was gusting. The pilot reported that he had to go around during the first landing due to the wind. He reported that during the second landing he undercompensated for the wind and the airplane landed hard, bounced and touched down again off the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that during both approaches he had trouble manipulating the throttle; it appeared to stick and unstick at times making engine performance and power application erratic, resulting in an unstabilized approach, and compensation for the gusting wind difficult. The wind at the airport at the time of the accident was reported as 310 degrees true, 18 knots, with gusts to 35 knots. The pilot landed runway 24, and reported that he should have chosen another airport with a crosswind runway. Further, following the accident, the pilot realized that he was not familiar enough with the airplane's Vernier type throttle, as his past experience was with a lever type throttle. An FAA inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported that the Vernier throttle operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N666GJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N666GJ-2020-01-06), registration cancelled 2020-01-06, S/N 666, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SEELA GERALD L GLASAIR SH 2F (FT) - Registry model: [Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F](https://openairdocs.org/model/seela-gerald-l-glasair-sh-2f) (registry code 056558U) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 666 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 1316 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2016 - Departed: HTS, Huntington, WV - Destination: UNV, State College, PA - Airport: UNV, University Park, runway 24, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 250 total, 3 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 18 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KUNV ## 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 20160608009219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160608009219A), Jun 8, 2016: Seela Gerald L GLASAIR SH-2F, State College, PA, Substantial damage. Breston recently purchased N666GJ, an amatuer built glasair SH-2F. The only flight exposure breston received, in this make and model, was as a passenger,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93382. 676 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 440 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, FAA Inspector and Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20FAA%20Inspector%20and%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-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.