- Date
- April 24, 2017, 15:31 local (20:31 UTC)
- Place
- Chesterfield, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N614WBThomas B Mcgrath JA30 Superstol
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 20, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170424008539A
- Case key
- 95067
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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 3
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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after several attempts to land, the wind had changed to a more favorable direction and that "[he] was confident in [landing] the plane." He added that the approach was uneventful but that, during the landing roll, "a cross wind started pushing the aircraft and tail left." Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left wing aileron, and right wing rear spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the airport, about the time of the accident, reported that the wind was from 180° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 8L.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that after several attempts to land, the wind had changed to a more favorable direction and "[he] was confident in [landing] the plane". He added that the approach was uneventful, but during the landing roll "a cross wind started pushing the aircraft and tail left". Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left wing aileron and right wing rear spar. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 180° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 8L.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N614WB
- Reported as
- Thomas B Mcgrath JA30 Superstol (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- JA422-11-14
- Built
- 2015
- Airframe hours
- 80
- Engine
- Rotax BullyHawk 914, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- SAR · Sparta, IL
- Destination
- SUS · Chesterfield, MO
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- SUS · Spirit Of St Louis, runway 8L, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather
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
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 110.3 total · 42 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.76 inHg
- Observed at
- KSUS
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 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.