- Date
- March 11, 2018, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Altamont, NY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N142DTJohnson Gerald CR-1
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 14, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180311001919A
- Case key
- 96857
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 the runway heading during the approach in gusting crosswind conditions.
Findings · 5
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 ski-equipped airplane reported that, while on approach to a snow-covered airstrip, there was a quartering right gusting crosswind. He added that, about 100 ft above the ground, the right wing rose, and he attempted to correct to no avail. He added that the airplane was about 90° off of course to the left, and he chose to go between two trees. Subsequently, the left wing impacted a tree and separated from the airplane, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. 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 about 9 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The pilot landed on runway 26.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the ski-equipped airplane reported that, while on approach to a snow-covered airstrip, there was a quartering right gusty crosswind. He added that about 100 ft. above the ground, the right wing raised up, and he attempted to correct to no avail. He added that the airplane was about 90° off of course to the left, and he chose to go between two trees. Subsequently, the left wing impacted a tree, separated from the airplane, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. 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 about 9 nautical miles from the accident site reported, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The pilot landed on runway 26.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N142DT
- Reported as
- Johnson Gerald CR-1 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 01
- Built
- 2008
- Airframe hours
- 881
- Engine
- Continental C90-8F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · January 27, 2018
- Departed
- Sharon Springs, NY
- Destination
- Altamont, NY
- Airport
- Private, runway 26, 2,400 × 70 ft, snow
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS
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
- 52
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 31, 2016
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 587 total · 288 in this make and model · 549 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 12.5 in the last 30 days · 2.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 12 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,600 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- KSCH, 9 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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.