- Date
- July 4, 2019, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Casper, WY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N941DMMerit CCX-2000
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190704009159A
- Case key
- 99797
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 with a tailwind, which resulted in a ground loop.
Findings · 3
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 landing with a tailwind, the airplane ground looped to the right. Both landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. 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 station reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 4 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 03.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing with a tailwind, the airplane ground looped to the right. Both landing gear collapsed the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. 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 station reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 4 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 03.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N941DM
- Reported as
- Merit CCX-2000
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- CCX-2000-0036
- Built
- 2018
- Airframe hours
- 100
- Engine
- Aero Sport Power CC363i, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Merit Aviation Llc
- Registered owner
- Merit Aviation Llc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- HSR · Hot Springs, SD
- Destination
- CPR · Casper, WY
- Airport
- CPR · Casper/Natrona County Intl, runway 03, 10,165 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Auto-pilot
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 7, 2019
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 214 total · 21 in this make and model · 144 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 4, 2019
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 100 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command · 110 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- KCPR
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.3 MB 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.