# NTSB GAA18CA549: Aviat A1, N868X, Bentonville, AR, September 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2018, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Bentonville, AR - Coordinates: 36.348331, -94.219169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3483&lon=-94.2192&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): 98290 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA549 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98290/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98290 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA549 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an attempted go-around after the airplane bounced, 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: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2210406), [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: [Aviat A-1B, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Aviat A-1B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced. The airplane then bounced again twice and veered left of the centerline, and he applied "stick back" to pin the tail down. He then applied full throttle to go around but did not relieve the back pressure on the stick. Subsequently, the airplane pitched up in a "very high" angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin and subsequent impact with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. 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 tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced. The airplane then bounced two additional times and veered left of the centerline, and he applied "stick back" to pin the tail down. He then applied full throttle to go around, but did not relieve the back pressure on the stick. Subsequently, the airplane pitched up in a "very high" angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin, and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N868X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N868X), registered now, S/N 2351, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A1 (B) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1D6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1d6) (registry code 41822, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2351 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1513.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Summit Aviation LLC, doing business as Summit Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Oz Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 24, 2018 - Departed: VBT, Bentonville, AR - Destination: VBT, Bentonville, AR - Airport: VBT, Bentonville Muni/Louise M Thad, runway 18, 4,426 × 65 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 150.3 total, 20.2 in this make and model, 57.2 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 10.5 in the last 30 days, 0.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KVBT ## 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 20180912013469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180912013469A), Sep 12, 2018: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Bentonville, AR, Substantial damage. At approximately 6:35PM, sept 12th 2018, an Aviat husky N868X landing runway 18 at the Bentonville municipal airport (vbt). The aircraft landed and bounced… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98290. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 775 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 447 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469088&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.