# NTSB GAA18CA069: Weaver David A Pulsar 912XP, N912GR, Plato Center, IL, December 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 2, 2017, 16:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Plato Center, IL - Coordinates: 42.007778, -88.456947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0078&lon=-88.4569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 21, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96427 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96427/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96427 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA069 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to continue to land without visual reference to the airport in low light conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to activate the private airport’s pilot-controlled lighting system due to its configuration. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md?model=05618BO), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05618BO), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015/cases.md?model=05618BO), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015/cases.md) - [Light condition: low light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md?model=05618BO), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05618BO), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05618BO), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=05618BO), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05618BO), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while making a straight-in approach to a private airport just after dusk, but before dark, he attempted to activate the pilot-controlled lighting (PCL) but was unsuccessful. He added that he continued toward the airport, and while maneuvering for landing, he lost sight of the airport. The pilot did not regain visual reference of the airport during the landing descent, and the airplane impacted a fence adjacent to the runway. 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 airport owner reported that the PCL antenna required line-of-sight with the aircraft to operate the PCL system. Due to the antenna's position and hangars on the airport, the antenna did not receive signals from the southeast, the direction from which the accident airplane was approaching. He added that, because the airport was private, he could not issue a NOTAM to describe the operation of the runway lights. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while making a straight-in approach to a private airport just after dusk, but before dark, he attempted to activate the pilot controlled lighting (PCL), but was unsuccessful. He added that he continued toward the airport, and while maneuvering for landing he lost sight of the airport. The pilot did not regain visual reference of the airport during the landing descent, and the airplane impacted a fence adjacent to the runway. 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 airport owner reported that the PCL antenna requires line-of-sight with the aircraft to operate the PCL system. Presently, due to the antenna's position and hangars on the airport, the antenna does not receive signals from the southeast, the direction from which the accident airplane was approaching. He added that, since the airport was private, he could not issue Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to describe the operation of the runway lights. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912GR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N912GR-2019-04-23), registration cancelled 2019-04-23, S/N 329, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WEAVER DAVID A PULSAR 912XP (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP](https://openairdocs.org/model/weaver-david-a-pulsar-912xp) (registry code 05618BO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 329 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 542 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 30, 2017 - Departed: LWV, LAWRENCEVILLE, IL - Destination: LL53, Plato Center, IL - Airport: LL53, Olson, runway SW, 2,400 × 70 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 540 total, 490 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KDPA, 11 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 20171202022359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171202022359A), Dec 2, 2017: Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP, Plato Center, IL, Substantial damage. On December 2, 2017, the pilot in command (PIC) of N912GR, a pulsar 912XP, departed lawrenceville/vincennes airport (lwv) on a cross-country flight to olson… ## Other investigations on N912GR (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI07CA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA275), Aug 21, 2007: Weaver, David A Pulsar 912XP (N912GR), Plato Center, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. Factors were the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft and pilot's failure to maintain altitude. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96427. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Airport Owner (item 3, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459348&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Airport%20Owner-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.