# NTSB GAA19CA394: Merit CCX-2000, N941DM, Casper, WY, July 4, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 4, 2019, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Casper, WY - Coordinates: 42.89611, -106.471389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8961&lon=-106.4714&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA394 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99797/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99797 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA394 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a 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: [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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Merit Aviation Llc CCX-2000 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CCX-2000-0036 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; 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 - Co-pilot; age 60; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20190704009159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190704009159A), Jul 4, 2019: Merit Aviation LLC CCX-2000, Casper, WY, Substantial damage. Landed aircraft tail was down aircraft went hard right pilot added left rudder, aircraft right wing came up, left wing struck runway, left landing gear… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99797. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 875 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475601&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.