# NTSB GAA19CA120: Emmet Smith Roadrunner, N949TS, Truckee, CA, January 29, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 29, 2019, 14:27 local (22:27 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Coordinates: 39.319999, -120.139442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3200&lon=-120.1394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98925/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98925 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA120 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to allow the airplane to exit the runway onto a snow-covered field, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05637YH), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05637YH), [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: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05637YH), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=05637YH), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05637YH), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05637YH), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05637YH), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05637YH), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to ground loop to the left. He corrected with opposite rudder and aileron and regained control of the airplane, but the airplane started to veer right. The pilot added that, while the airplane was veering right toward the edge of the runway, he assumed the snow on the adjacent field was compacted and would efficiently slow the airplane, so he let the airplane exit the runway to the right; however, the snow was "softer than [he] anticipated," and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut. The pilot 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 020º at 3 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 20. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel equipped airplane began to ground loop left. He corrected with opposite rudder and aileron and regained control of the airplane, but the airplane started to veer right. The pilot added that while the airplane was veering right towards the edge of the runway, he assumed the snow on the adjacent field was compacted and would efficiently slow the airplane so he let the airplane exit the runway to the right but the snow was "softer than [he] anticipated" and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located on the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind was from 020º at 3 knots. The airplane landed on runway 20. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N949TS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N949TS), registered now, S/N 0818, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EMMET SMITH ROADRUNNER - Registry model: [Emmet Smith ROADRUNNER](https://openairdocs.org/model/emmet-smith-roadrunner) (registry code 05637YH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-b1a) (registry code 41887, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0818 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 63 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 13, 2018 - Departed: O02, Beckwourth, CA - Destination: TRK, Truckee, CA - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe, runway 20, 4,654 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,434 total, 6,379 in this make and model, 1,388 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 9.1 in the last 30 days, 4.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KTRK ## 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 20190129000469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190129000469A), Jan 29, 2019: Emmet Q Smith ROADRUNNER, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot encountered a deviation from a straight landing and momentarily lost control resulting in departing the runway 20 to the right. Pilot regained control,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98925. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472918&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472919&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.