# NTSB GAA18CA259: Creech Jerry Creech Jerry CH 701, N701XS, Lusby, MD, May 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 5, 2018, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Lusby, MD - Coordinates: 38.36111, -76.404167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3611&lon=-76.4042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97196 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97196/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97196 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA259 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056316S), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056316S), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=056316S), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=056316S), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056316S), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056316S), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=056316S), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane owner reported that, during the flight, he was seated in the right seat, and the pilot flying was seated in the left seat. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with single-engine land and flight instructor ratings. He added that the experimental amateur-built airplane had one throttle located on the far-left side of the cabin, one set of brakes located on the left rudder pedals, and nosewheel steering that was interconnected with the rudder pedals. He further reported that the pilot started and taxied the airplane for takeoff; performed climbs, descents, and turns; and then landed. During landing, the airplane was fast, touched down hard, and bounced about 20 to 25 ft. The pilot then said, "Oh that's alright I got it," leveled the airplane, and continued the landing. Subsequently, the airplane porpoised, landed with the nose left of the runway centerline, veered off the runway to the left, and struck a tree. The owner added that, during the landing, he told the pilot "nose down, right rudder," and during the runway excursion, he yelled "brakes!" He added that the pilot never reduced throttle to idle, and he never felt the application of brakes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's lawyer reported that his client was not the pilot flying the airplane because he did not have previous training in the category, class, and type of aircraft. ## Factual narrative The owner of the airplane reported that, during the flight, he was seated in the right seat, and the pilot flying was seated in the left seat. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with single-engine land and flight instructor ratings. He added that, the experimental amateur-built airplane had one throttle located on the far-left side of the cabin, one set of brakes located on the left side rudder pedals, and the nose wheel steering was interconnected with the rudder pedals. He further reported that the pilot, started and taxied the airplane for takeoff, performed climbs, descents and turns, and landed. During landing, the airplane was fast, touched down hard and bounced about 20-25 ft. The pilot then said, "Oh that's alright I got it", leveled the airplane, and continued the landing. Subsequently, the airplane porpoised, landed with the nose to the left of the runway centerline, veered off the runway to the left, and struck a tree. The owner added, that during the landing he told the pilot "nose down, right rudder", and during the runway excursion he yelled "brakes!". He added that, the pilot never reduced throttle to idle, and he never felt the application of brakes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's lawyer reported that his client was not the pilot flying the airplane, due to not having previous training in the category, class and type of aircraft. The airplane was a single engine, tricycle landing gear airplane with a 100 horsepower engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N701XS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N701XS), registered now, S/N 76489, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CREECH JERRY CREECH JERRY CH 701 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/creech-jerry-creech-jerry-ch-701) (registry code 056316S) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 76489 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 43.5 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 15, 2018 - Departed: MD50, Lusby, MD - Destination: MD50, Lusby, MD - Airport: MD50, Chesapeake Ranch, runway 31, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 11, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20,179 total, 0 in this make and model - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KNHK, 4 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 20180505004719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180505004719A), May 5, 2018: Creech Jerry CREECH JERRY CH 701, Lusby, MD, Substantial damage. Aircraft flown from Chesapeake ranch airport (MD50) a private airfield in Maryland. Aircraft approached runway 13 for landing. Aircraft veered off runway and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97196. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 878 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465549&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465550&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Master.PDF - Law Firm Email (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465551&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Law%20Firm%20Email-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.