# NTSB GAA17CA287: Johnson Kenneth W Super CUB Sport, N1111E, Austin, NV, May 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2017, 15:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Austin, NV - Coordinates: 39.468055, -117.197502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4681&lon=-117.1975&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95189 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95189/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95189 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA287 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0561967), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had been practicing touch-and-go landings and short takeoffs and landings in gusting wind conditions. On the fourth landing, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and he lost directional control of the airplane. He attempted to go around, but the left wing struck desert brush, and the airplane spun to the left. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the rudder, and the horizontal stabilizer. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if, "in the wind conditions, I…[had] carried a little more airspeed to help with the gusts." 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 had been practicing touch and go landings along with short takeoffs and landings in gusting wind conditions. On the forth landing the airplane encountered a wind gust and he lost directional control of the airplane. He attempted to go-around but the left wing struck the desert brush and the airplane spun to the left. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings, the rudder and the horizontal stabilizer. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by, "in the wind conditions, I should have carried a little more airspeed to help with the gusts." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1111E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1111E), registered now, S/N 471C, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JOHNSON KENNETH W SUPER CUB SPORT (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-kenneth-w-super-cub-sport) (registry code 0561967) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2b) (registry code 42138, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 471C - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 778 - Engines: Lycoming O-323-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 20, 2017 - Departed: TMT, Austin, NV - Destination: TMT, Austin, NV - Airport: TMT, Austin - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,254 total, 2,758 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 21 knots, gusting 26 - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KP68, 56 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 20170512005119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170512005119A), May 12, 2017: Johnson Kenneth W SUPER CUB SPORT, Austin, NV, Substantial damage. On the fourth landing when practicing touch and go landings for the 2017 oshkosh stol competition, a gust of wind dropped the left wing. The wing came in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95189. 648 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 470 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456832&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456833&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.