GAA19CA443

NTSB accident investigation · Valldejuli John A Aerocomp · Jefferson City, MO · July 20, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 20, 2019, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
Place
Jefferson City, MO
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N12ZTValldejuli John A Aerocomp
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 13, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20190720012229A
Case key
99902

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 a touch-and-go landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with runway lights, and a nose-over.

Findings · 5

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.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedValldejuli John A AEROCOMP 7: 1 caseAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationValldejuli John A AEROCOMP 7: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,199 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationValldejuli John A AEROCOMP 7: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,008 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach lightEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationValldejuli John A AEROCOMP 7: 1 caseAll aircraft: 106 casesProbable cause

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 reported that, during a touch-and-go landing and shortly after touchdown, the airplane veered left. He added power, and the airplane pitched up, so he "cut the power" and corrected with right aileron, but the airplane landed hard on a grass field next to the runway, struck runway lights, and nosed over. The pilot added that the airplane was trimmed for landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 030° at 10 to 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during a touch and go landing, shortly after touchdown, the airplane veered left. He added power and the airplane pitched up, so "cut the power" and corrected with right aileron, but the airplane landed hard on the grass field next to the runway, struck runway lights and nosed over. The pilot added that the airplane was trimmed for landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and empennage. 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 station located 14 nautical miles north of the accident airport reported that: about 30 minutes before the accident, the wind was 190° at 12 knots, and about 30 minutes after the accident, the wind was 220° at 11 knots The pilot reported that the wind was 030° at 10 to 15 knots, gusting up to 20 knots. The airplane touched down on runway 12.

Aircraft

Registration
N12ZT
Reported as
Valldejuli John A Aerocomp (7)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
98-175
Built
1999
Airframe hours
310
Engine
Walter 601-D, 657 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Comp Air Wings Llc
Registered owner
Comp Air Wings Llc
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · November 15, 2018
Departed
JEF · Jefferson City, MO
Destination
JEF · Jefferson City, MO
Airport
JEF · Jefferson City Memorial, runway 12, 6,000 × 100 ft, concrete
Equipment
Auto-pilot

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 16, 2018
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
3,031 total · 35 in this make and model · 3,031 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 12 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
29.92 inHg
Observed at
KCOU, 14 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 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.