# NTSB GAA18CA302: Taylorcraft F21, N2004U, Payette, ID, May 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2018, 10:53 local (16:53 UTC) - Place: Payette, ID - Coordinates: 44.094444, -116.90361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0944&lon=-116.9036&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97338 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97338/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97338 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA302 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850906), [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: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2004U-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N F-1006, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT AVIATION CORP. F21 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F21](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f21) (registry code 8850906) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-1006 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 570 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20180528006269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180528006269A), May 28, 2018: Taylorcraft Aviation Corp. F21, Payette, ID, Substantial damage. The accident pilot (ap), a student pilot, reported the entire sequence of the accident flight in detail. The purpose of the day's flight was to accumulate time… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97338. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.