# NTSB GAA17CA212: Thomas Craig E Wittman W-10, N13XZ, Stevensville, MT, March 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 28, 2017, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Stevensville, MT - Coordinates: 46.525554, -114.05278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5256&lon=-114.0528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94943/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94943 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA212 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to take off with a known master brake cylinder leak and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## 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: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056339Q), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056339Q), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056339Q), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: master cylinder/brake valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243/cases.md?model=056339Q), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=056339Q), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056339Q), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056339Q), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056339Q), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after landing at an airport along his route, he observed a leak from the left master brake cylinder. He added that he "wiped up [a] considerable [amount of] brake fluid from the floorboard," conducted a "thorough inspection" of the left brake, and then departed for another airport. He further reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane weathervaned into the crosswind, and he applied "full rudder and [the] application of brake found no brake available." He added that, after pumping the brakes, they began to function. The airplane veered off the runway to the right, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after landing at an airport along his route, he observed a leak from the left master brake cylinder. He added that he "wiped up [a] considerable [amount of] brake fluid from the floorboard", did a "thorough inspection" of the left brake, and then departed for another airport. He further reported that, during the landing roll at the accident airport, the airplane weathervaned into the crosswind, and he applied "full rudder and [the] application of brake found no brake available". After pumping the brake, he added that, they began to function. The airplane veered off the runway to the right and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13XZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13XZ), registered now, S/N 975, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THOMAS CRAIG E WITTMAN W-10 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Thomas Craig E WITTMAN W-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/thomas-craig-e-wittman-w-10) (registry code 056339Q) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 975 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 46 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 13, 2017 - Departed: 23S, SEELEY LAKE, MT - Destination: 32S, Stevensville, MT - Airport: 32S, Stevensville, runway 12, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,125.9 total, 49 in this make and model, 43.9 in the last 90 days, 2.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KMSO, 24 nm away ## 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 20170328002539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170328002539A), Mar 28, 2017: Craig E. Thomas WITTMAN W-10, Stevensville, MT, Substantial damage. On March 28, 2017, at 1633 MST. A wittman tailwind W-10, landed at Stevensville airport. After touch down pilot lost control of aircraft and ground looped.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94943. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 534 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457848&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.