# NTSB GAA19CA090: Zenair CH 750 Cruzer, N947DS, Hesperia, CA, December 8, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 8, 2018, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Hesperia, CA - Coordinates: 34.376945, -117.316108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3769&lon=-117.3161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98749/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98749 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA090 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in hard, bounced landing, runway excursion, and impact with a hangar. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05634EW), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05634EW), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=05634EW), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05634EW), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05634EW), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05634EW), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05634EW), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he planned to land close to the numbers, but when the airplane was about 15 ft above ground level, it descended unexpectedly. He added power and pitched the airplane nose down, and the nosewheel touched down hard. The airplane began to porpoise, so he increased the throttle to full, but the airplane veered left, exited the runway, and impacted an empty hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. 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 he planned to land close to the numbers, but about 15 feet above the ground, the airplane descended unexpectedly. He added power and pitched the nose down, but the nose wheel touched down hard. The airplane began to porpoise, so he increased the throttle to full, but the airplane veered left, exited the runway, and impacted an empty hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N947DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N947DS-2019-03-21), registration cancelled 2019-03-21, S/N C75-10047, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenair CH 750 CRUZER (No Series) - Registry model: [Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dean-verne-smith-ch-750-cruzer) (registry code 05634EW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Viking 110](https://openairdocs.org/engine/viking-110) (registry code 63700, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C75-10047 - Year built: 2015 - Engines: Viking 110 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 22, 2018 - Departed: AJO, Corona, CA - Destination: L26, Hesperia, CA - Airport: L26, Hesperia, runway 21, 3,910 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 14, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 25 total, 315 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KAPV, 14 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 20181208017889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181208017889A), Dec 8, 2018: Dean Verne Smith CH 750 CRUZER, Hesperia, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot of N947DS was landing his experimental light sport aircraft on runway 21 at Hesperia Airport (L26) when the airplane bounced and began porpoising… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98749. 651 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 505 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479241&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.