- Date
- May 15, 2017, 15:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place
- Vacaville, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N184MEWeaver Stanley R/Robinson Scot Vans RV-8
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170515023559A
- Case key
- 95178
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 while landing in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
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, while landing in a crosswind and as the tailwheel set down, the airplane veered to the right. He added that, despite left rudder input, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and impacted a 20-ft-deep drainage ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. 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 reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 240° at 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 20.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing in a crosswind, and as the tailwheel set down, the airplane veered to the right. He added that, despite left rudder input, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and impacted a 20 ft. deep drainage ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. 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 reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 240° at 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 20.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N184ME
- Reported as
- Weaver Stanley R/Robinson Scot Vans RV-8
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 82158
- Built
- 2016
- Airframe hours
- 67
- Engine
- Aero Sport Power IO-375-M1S, 195 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 28, 2016
- Departed
- LOL · Lovelock, NV
- Destination
- VCB · Vacaville, CA
- Airport
- VCB · Nut Tree, runway 20, 4,700 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot
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
- 54
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 18, 2016
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 534 total · 36 in this make and model · 472 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.81 inHg
- Observed at
- KVCB
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 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.