GAA18CA302

NTSB accident investigation · Taylorcraft F21 · Payette, ID · May 28, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 28, 2018, 10:53 local (16:53 UTC)
Place
Payette, ID
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N2004UTaylorcraft F21
Defining event
Landing: Abnormal runway contact
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 18, 2019
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20180528006269A
Case key
97338

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 student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind and his subsequent failure to maintain airspeed during an aborted landing, which resulted in a collision with terrain and nose-over.

Findings · 4

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.

Performance/control parameters: airspeedAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedTaylorcraft F21: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,681 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotTaylorcraft F21: 2 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedTaylorcraft F21: 1 caseAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationTaylorcraft F21: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,008 casesProbable cause

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

According to the student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he had completed a cross-country flight and aborted the first landing due to crosswind gusts from the left. He also aborted the second landing, but on his third approach about 60 knots, he committed to the landing. Just before touching down, the airplane encountered a left crosswind gust and then touched down oriented 10° left of the runway heading and bounced. The airplane veered right and exited the right side of the runway. He added full power and aborted the landing, but the airspeed was too slow. The airplane remained airborne for 150 ft, landed in a dirt field, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and windscreen. The student reported that, at the time of the accident, "winds were out of the NW at approximately 11 mph (as indicated by my Garmin Pilot app) with a 6 mph crosswind from the West and gusting." The airplane landed on runway 31. The nearest METAR, which was 6 miles southwest of the accident site, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 10 knots. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

According to the student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he had completed a cross-country flight and aborted the first landing due to crosswind gusts from the left. He also aborted the second landing, but on his third approach about 60 knots approach airspeed, he committed to the landing. Just before touching down, the airplane encountered a left crosswind gust and the airplane touched down oriented 10° to the left of the runway heading and bounced. The airplane veered to the right and exited the right side of the runway. He added full power and aborted the landing, but the airspeed was too slow. The airplane remained airborne for 150ft, landed in a dirt field, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the windscreen. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, "Winds were out of the NW at approximately 11 mph (as indicated by my Garmin Pilot app) with a 6 MPH crosswind from the West and gusting." The airplane landed on runway 31. The nearest METAR was 6 miles southwest of the accident site and reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 10 knots. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N2004U
Reported as
Taylorcraft F21 (UNDESIGNAT)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
F-1006
Built
1980
Airframe hours
570
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 1, 2017
Departed
S75 · Payette, ID
Destination
S75 · Payette, ID
Airport
S75 · Payette Muni, runway 31, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt
Equipment
None

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
Student pilot
Age
48
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
37 total · 27 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.03 inHg
Observed at
KONO, 6 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.9 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.