- Date
- March 5, 2017, 05:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Henderson, NV
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2516KLancair Columbia 400
- Defining event
- Landing: Windshear or thunderstorm
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 22, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170305006119A
- Case key
- 94827
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 improper decision to land the airplane with a gusting crosswind, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Findings · 5
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 reported that he and his passenger were cleared by the tower for the approach to runway 17R. During landing, "a violent wind gust without warning hit the airplane." The pilot attempted to recover, "when a second violent wind gust hit the airplane causing a wing to hit the ground." The airplane's left wing impacted the safety area between runway 17R and 17L and just beyond taxiway Foxtrot. The airplane came to rest in the same safety area about 45° left of the initial impact point and about 10 ft from runway 17L. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and rudder. The METAR reported that the wind was from 220° at 31 knots, gusting to 38 knots about the time of the accident. According to the manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 23 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he and his passenger were cleared by tower for the approach to runway 17 Right (R). During landing, "a violent wind gust without warning hit the airplane." The pilot attempted to recover, "when a second violent wind gust hit the airplane causing a wing to hit the ground." The airplane's initial impact point was the left wing that impacted the safety area between runway 17 R and 17 Left (L), and just beyond taxiway Foxtrot. The airplane came to rest in the same safety area about 45° left of the initial impact point, and about 10 feet from runway 17 L. The airplane sustained substantial damage to runway left wing, the fuselage and the rudder. The meteorological aerodrome report identified that the wind was out of 220° at the velocity of 31 kts. gusting to 38 kts. about the time of the accident. According to the manufacturer's pilot operating handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component is 23 kts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2516K
- Reported as
- Lancair Columbia 400
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 41069
- Built
- 2005
- Airframe hours
- 991
- Engine
- Cont Motor TSIO-550-C5, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 4, 2016
- Departed
- 0E0 · Moriaty, NM
- Destination
- HND · Henderson, NV
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- HND · Henderson Executive, runway 17R, 6,501 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display
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
- 67
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 2, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 5,729 total · 1,350 in this make and model · 5,729 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 31 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
- Observed at
- KHND
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB 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.