- Date
- November 13, 2018, 11:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kailua/Kona, HI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5023GEugene Wells Dragon Fly-B
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20181113022519A
- Case key
- 98635
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in a crosswind. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes for which he did not have an endorsement.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the approach, there was "heavy traffic" behind his airplane and a right crosswind. He added that, during a wheel landing, he tried to "maintain speed" to clear the runway, but the airplane began to "fishtail." He added power to regain control, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway, the left wing impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest in a "lava field." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that the accident was due to pilot error because of his lack of experience in the airplane. He added that he did not have a tailwheel endorsement and had a total of only 3 flight hours experience in tailwheel airplanes with a flight instructor. The airport’s automated weather observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 9 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 17.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the approach, there was "heavy traffic" behind, and a crosswind from the right. During a wheel landing, he tried to "maintain speed" to clear the runway, but the airplane began to "fishtail". He added power to regain control, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway, the left wing impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest in a "lava field". The pilot further reported the accident was pilot error due to lack of experience in the airplane. He added that he did not have a tailwheel endorsement, and had a total of 3 flight hours in tailwheel airplanes with a certified flight instructor. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The automated weather observation system at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 9 knots. The pilot was landing on runway 17. After multiple attempts, the pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board form 6120.1.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5023G
- Reported as
- Eugene Wells Dragon Fly-B
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1
- Built
- 1979
- Engine
- Lycoming, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination
- KOA · Kailua/Kona, HI
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- KOA · Ellison Onizuka Kona Intl At K, runway 17, 11,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- BasicMed, Without waivers/limitations
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- PHKO
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 832 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.