# NTSB GAA19CA002: Airborne Windsports PTY Edge XT 912, N20179, Frankston, TX, October 2, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 2, 2018, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Frankston, TX - Coordinates: 32.081665, -95.452499 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0817&lon=-95.4525&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98408 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98408/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98408 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in the weight-shift-controlled aircraft landing crooked on a turf runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT 912-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059008Z), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT 912-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=059008Z), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT 912-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=059008Z), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT 912-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=059008Z), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT 912-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=059008Z), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT 912-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=059008Z), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT 912-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=059008Z), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing, the weight-shift-controlled aircraft landed slightly "crooked," the steering bar "jerked a bit side to side," and the front wheel dug into the turf runway. Subsequently, the aircraft rolled onto its right side. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during landing, the weight-shifted controlled aircraft landed slightly "crooked", the steering bar "jerked a bit side to side," and the front wheel dug into the sod runway. Subsequently, the aircraft rolled right, onto its side. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20179](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20179), registered now, S/N XT912-113, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airborne Windsports PTY LTD Edge XT 912 (B) - Registry model: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT 912-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-windsports-pty-edge-xt-912-b) (registry code 059008Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: XT912-113 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 373 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 2, 2018 - Departed: T25, Frankston, TX - Destination: T25, Frankston, TX - Airport: T25, Aero Estates, runway 27, 3,100 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Airframe parachute, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: minor; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,859 total, 142 in this make and model, 1,650 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KTYR, 16 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 20181002016619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181002016619A), Oct 2, 2018: Airborne Windsports Pty Ltd EDGE XT 912-B, Frankston, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot made a landing at aero estates rnwy-27(T25) touch down point was 20% down the runway and touchdown was smooth at 35KTS. The front wheel jerked a bit from… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98408. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 843 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 267 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.