# NTSB GAA18CA470: Walter C Smythe Tango XR, N454WS, Mansfield, OH, August 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 6, 2018, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Mansfield, OH - Coordinates: 40.755001, -82.721664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7550&lon=-82.7217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98002 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA470 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98002/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98002 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA470 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05633HL), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05633HL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05633HL), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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); cases with it: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05633HL), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05633HL), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633HL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05633HL), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05633HL), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced multiple times, so he added power to go around, but the left wing dropped, and the airplane "veered" left and dropped to the ground. The airplane touched down in the grass to the left of the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced multiple times, he added power to go around, the left wing dropped, and the airplane "veered" left and dropped to the ground. The airplane touched down in the grass to the left of the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N454WS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N454WS), registered now, S/N 029, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WALTER C SMYTHE TANGO XR - Registry model: [Walter C Smythe TANGO XR](https://openairdocs.org/model/walter-c-smythe-tango-xr) (registry code 05633HL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Titan IOX-370 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/titan-iox-370-serie) (registry code 59471, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 029 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 77.7 - Engines: Titan IOX370 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2018 - Departed: BXM, Brunswick, ME - Destination: GQQ, Mansfield, OH - Airport: GQQ, Galion Muni, runway 23, 3,504 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review July 29, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 217.3 total, 5.1 in this make and model, 183.1 as pilot in command, 5.1 in the last 90 days, 5.1 in the last 30 days, 5.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KMFD, 10 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 20180806014169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180806014169A), Aug 6, 2018: Walter C Smythe TANGO XR, Galion, OH, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying the aircraft from brunswick Maine to el cohon California. During the first approach at Galion Municipal Airport the aircraft was high and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98002. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467869&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.