# NTSB GAA17CA127: Vaughan Gerald R Side Winder TD, N60JV, McCook, NE, January 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 28, 2017, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: McCook, NE - Coordinates: 40.205833, -100.589721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2058&lon=-100.5897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94672 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94672/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94672 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA127 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting 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: [Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0560525), [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: [Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0560525), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0560525), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=0560525), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0560525), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0560525), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0560525), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions, the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder and brake, but the airplane struck a runway sign on the left side of the runway and exited the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 8 minutes after the accident, the wind was 320 ° true at 19 knots, gusting to 25 knots, and peak wind was 300 ° true at 27 knots. The airplane landed on runway 30. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions, the airplane veered to the left. He further reported that he applied right rudder and brake, but the airplane struck a runway sign on the left side of the runway and exited the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that about 8 minutes after the accident the wind was 320° true at 19 knots, wind gust 25 knots, peak wind was 300° true at 27 knots. The airplane landed on runway 30. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60JV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60JV), registered now, S/N V1004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VAUGHAN GERALD R SIDE WINDER TD (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD](https://openairdocs.org/model/vaughan-gerald-r-side-winder-td) (registry code 0560525) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: V1004 - Airframe hours: 397.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2016 - Departed: GCM, CLAREMORE, OK - Destination: MCK, McCook, NE - Airport: MCK, Mc Cook Ben Nelson Rgnl, runway 30, 6,450 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 5,152.8 total, 3.5 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 15.6 in the last 90 days, 9.6 in the last 30 days, 3.5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 19 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KMCK ## 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 20170128007239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170128007239A), Jan 28, 2017: Vaughan Gerald R SIDE WINDER TD, Mccook, NE, Substantial damage. On January 28, 2017 at approximently 1700 hours CST, experimental amateur built aircraft, a sidewinder td, N60JV, serial number 1004 was touching down on… ## Other investigations on N60JV (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR22FA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA311), Aug 20, 2022: Smyth Sidewinder TD (N60JV), Wichita Falls, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s inexperience with the airplane and inadequate takeoff procedures, which led to exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall during takeoff. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94672. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.