# NTSB GAA19CA044: Stoddard Hamilton Glasair II, N505YR, Laramie, WY, October 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 26, 2018, 18:40 local (Oct 27, 2018, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Laramie, WY - Coordinates: 41.320278, -105.67028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3203&lon=-105.6703&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98582 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98582/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98582 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper pitch attitude during landing at night, which resulted in a porpoised landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Lighting system: flight compartment lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023310): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative; cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023310/cases.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023310/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05628T2), [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: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05628T2), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot-rated owner reported that, after purchasing the airplane and receiving initial training the day before and the morning of the accident, he and a pilot-rated friend departed for a cross-country flight to their home airport. He added that, after nearly 9 hours of flying, the pilot-rated friend, who was manipulating the flight controls, offered to land at the destination airport because he had landed there before. The horizon was becoming dark, and they attempted to adjust the panel lights for the instruments but realized that the lights were not functioning, so the owner used a flashlight to illuminate the instruments for the landing. During the landing, the nose landing gear contacted the ground first, and the airplane porpoised. The second bounce was more severe, so the pilot initiated a go-around to no avail. The owner added that, during the third bounce, the airplane exited the runway to the left and then came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and fuselage. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport’s automated weather observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 270° at 11 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 30. ## Factual narrative The pilot-rated owner reported that, after purchasing the airplane and receiving initial training the day before and the morning of the accident, he and a pilot rated friend departed for a cross-country flight to their home airport. He added that after nearly 9 hours of being in the airplane for the day, the pilot rated friend, who was manipulating the flight controls offered to land at the destination airport because he had landed there before. The horizon was becoming dark and they attempted to adjust the panel lights for the instruments, but discovered that the lights did not function, so the owner used a flashlight to illuminate the instruments for the landing. During the landing, the nose landing gear contacted the ground first and the airplane porpoised. With each bounce becoming more severe, the pilot initiated a go around, but to no avail. The owner added that, on about the third bounce, the airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and fuselage. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 270° at 11 knots. The pilot landed on runway 30. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N505YR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N505YR), registered now, S/N 2040, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stoddard Hamilton GLASAIR II (FT) - Registry model: [Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT](https://openairdocs.org/model/supalla-raymond-j-glasair-iis-ft) (registry code 05628T2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2040 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 794.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2018 - Departed: HRX, Hereford, TX - Destination: LAR, Laramie, WY - Airport: LAR, Laramie Rgnl, runway 30, 6,300 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 19, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 128.3 total, 9.8 in this make and model, 74 as pilot in command, 14.1 in the last 90 days, 10.8 in the last 30 days, 8.8 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 29, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,604 total, 7.9 in this make and model, 1,530 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 17.5 in the last 30 days, 7.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KLAR, 1 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 20181026020919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181026020919A), Oct 26, 2018: Supalla Raymond J GLASAIR IIS-FT, Laramie, WY, Substantial damage. On 10/26/2018 at approximately 1840MST, an experimental amateur built, 1995 Supalla, raymond j, Glasair Iis-Ft, registration number N505YR, serial number 2040… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98582. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471094&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.