# NTSB GAA19CA215: Kaminskas RTH Jungster 1, N3243, Lebanon, IN, April 15, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 15, 2019, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Lebanon, IN - Coordinates: 40.007221, -86.440551 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0072&lon=-86.4406&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 November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99284 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99284/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99284 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA215 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Houlihan RTH JUNGSTER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1590350), [All aircraft, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Houlihan RTH JUNGSTER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=1590350), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Houlihan RTH JUNGSTER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=1590350), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Houlihan RTH JUNGSTER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1590350), [All aircraft, 1,557 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Houlihan RTH JUNGSTER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1590350), [All aircraft, 4,590 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: [Houlihan RTH JUNGSTER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1590350), [All aircraft, 2,289 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, about 30 minutes into the flight, the oil pressure gauge needle entered the yellow (caution) arc. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing at the nearest airport and to land on the grass on the right side of the asphalt runway. Before landing, he overflew the grass surface twice and then conducted a touch-and-go landing to assess the surface condition. The third approach and landing were normal, but during the landing roll, the main landing gear wheels encountered "a soft patch of muddy soil," and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that the only mechanical malfunction that occurred was specific to the oil pressure gauge. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that about 30 minutes into the flight, the oil pressure gauge needle entered the yellow (caution) arc. The pilot made a precautionary landing at the nearest airport. However, he decided to land on the grass on the right side of the asphalt runway. Before landing, he overflew the grass surface to evaluate the surface condition, and he performed a touch-and-go to further assess the surface condition. The third approach and the landing were normal, but during the landing roll, the main landing gear wheels encountered, "a soft patch of muddy soil," and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that the only mechanical malfunction that occurred, was specific to the oil pressure gauge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3243](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3243-2020-02-21), registration cancelled 2020-02-21, S/N 3, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kaminskas RTH JUNGSTER 1 (I) - Registry model: [Houlihan RTH JUNGSTER 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/houlihan-rth-jungster-1) (registry code 1590350) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3 - Year built: 1972 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: BMG, Bloomington, IN - Destination: 3C1, Elkhart, IN - Airport: 6I4, Boone County, runway 36, 3,600 × 30 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, waiver time limited special; last flight review June 1, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 35,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F - Observed at: KTYQ, 9 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 20190415010809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190415010809A), Apr 15, 2019: Houlihan RTH JUNGSTER 1, Lebanon, IN, Substantial damage. On April 15, 2019, at 1602 eastern daylight time, a Houlihan rth jungster 1 aircraft, N3243, landed adjacent to runway 36 at the Lebanon, Indiana Boone County… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99284. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 961 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474127&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.