# NTSB GAA17CA512: Aviat A 1, N335SB, Cody, WY, August 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 27, 2017, 17:00 local (Aug 28, 2017, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Cody, WY - Coordinates: 44.520278, -109.023887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5203&lon=-109.0239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA512 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95905/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95905 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA512 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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: [Aviat A-1B, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Aviat A-1B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he landed on the asphalt surface of runway 4 with full flaps and about 40 knots airspeed. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, a wind gust struck the airplane's left side, the airplane ground looped to the left, and the right-wing strut collided with the 7,000-ft runway distance marker. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing strut and the wing spar. The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 020° at 9 knots. No wind gusts were reported at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he landed on the asphalt surface of runway 4 with full flaps and about 40 knots airspeed. During the landing roll, a wind gust struck the left side of the airplane, and the airplane ground-looped to the left, and the right-wing strut collided with the 7,000ft runway distance marker. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing strut and the wing spar. The METAR at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 020° at 9kts. No wind gusts were reported at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N335SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N335SB), registered now, S/N 2090, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A 1 (B) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2090 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 610 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - local, Public use - Operator: Park County Sheriffs Office - Registered owner: Park County Sheriffs Office - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2017 - Departed: COD, Cody, WY - Destination: COD, Cody, WY - Airport: COD, Yellowstone Rgnl, runway 04, 8,268 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 19, 2017; flight hours: 14,777 total, 610 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 20° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KCOD ## 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 20170827010499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170827010499A), Aug 27, 2017: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Cody, WY, Substantial damage. On landing touchdown rwy 04, gust of wind caught aircraft, causing the aircraft to turn 90 degrees to rwy and caused right wing to drop and wing struts struck… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95905. 2.0 MB in all. - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461313&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.