# NTSB GAA19CA156: James A Gray Just Aircraft, N102XP, Marysville, OH, March 7, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 7, 2019, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Marysville, OH - Coordinates: 40.224445, -83.351669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2244&lon=-83.3517&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99071 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99071/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99071 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA156 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground loop. ## 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: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056323M), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056323M), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056323M), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056323M), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056323M), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056323M), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056323M), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=056323M), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while practicing takeoff and landings, the airplane landed hard with "a big bounce," and the right wing came up. He attempted to correct by adding power and initiating a go-around. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped, exited the runway, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather reporting station reported that, about 15 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 300° at 5 knots and that visibility was 10 statute miles. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 26. ## Factual narrative The student pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while practicing takeoff and landings, landed hard with "a big bounce" and the right wing came up. He attempted to correct by adding power and initiating a go-around. Subsequently the airplane then ground looped, exited the runway and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 15 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 300° at 2 knots and visibility was 10 statute miles. The airplane was landing runway 26. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N102XP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N102XP-2025-01-08), registration cancelled 2025-01-08, S/N JA204-04-10 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: James A Gray Just Aircraft (Highlander) - Registry model: [James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA](https://openairdocs.org/model/james-a-gray-just-aircraft-highla) (registry code 056323M) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34802, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA204-04-10 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 90 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 15, 2018 - Departed: MRT, Marysville, OH - Destination: MRT, Marysville, OH - Airport: MRT, Union County, runway 26, 2,702 × 81 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; student; seat: left; flight hours: 163 total, 101 in this make and model, 36 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: KMRT ## 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 20190307000969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190307000969A), Mar 7, 2019: James A Gray JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, Marysville, OH, Substantial damage. On landing rollout aircraft right wing lifted. Pilot attempted a go around and loss control. Aircraft ended up 150 feet south of runway upside down in field. ## Other investigations on N102XP (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA25LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA051), Nov 18, 2024: James A Gray Just Aircraft Highlander (N102XP), Fountain Inn, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99071. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471478&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471479&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.