# NTSB LAX00LA349: Woodruff Lancair 360, N360HW, Kernville, CA, September 24, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 2000, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Kernville, CA
- Coordinates: 35.729133, -118.390869 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7291&lon=-118.3909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50328
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA349
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50328/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA349

## Probable cause

The pilot failed to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, resulting in a stall/mush and hard landing, and failed to maintain directional control and the left main landing gear separated when it struck a rock.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear - separation (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane bounced and veered off the left side of the runway.  The pilot was on final and maintaining 85 knots as he initiated his flare.  During the flare, he encountered wind shear and the airplane dropped from about 5 feet.  The left main landing gear struck some large rocks and separated from the airplane.  The pilot said a big upslope was near the runway.  He estimated the winds to be from 010 degrees at 10 knots.

## Factual narrative

On September 24, 2000, about 0830 hours Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built experimental Woodruff Lancair 360, N360HW, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Kern Valley Airport, Kernville, California.  The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The pilot and one passenger were not injured.  The personal flight departed Chino, California, about 0745.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot stated he was on final for runway 35 and maintaining 85 knots as he initiated his flare.  During the flare, he encountered wind shear and the airplane dropped from about 5 feet.  The airplane bounced and veered off the left side of the runway.  The left main landing gear struck some large rocks and separated from the airplane.  The pilot said a big upslope was near the runway.  He estimated the winds to be from 010 degrees at 10 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N360HW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N360HW-2001-02-21), registration cancelled 2001-02-21, S/N 789-320-631FB (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WOODRUFF LANCAIR 360
- Registry model: [Woodruff Harold S LANCAIR 360](https://openairdocs.org/model/woodruff-harold-s-lancair-360) (registry code 05625HZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 789320631FB
- Airframe hours: 206
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harold Woodruff
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1999, 106 hours before
- Departed: CNO, CHINO, CA
- Destination: L05
- Airport: L05, Kern Valley, runway 35, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,767 total, 209 in this make and model, 1,746 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 151 °F, dew point 126 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFL, 36 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 20000924008279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000924008279A), Sep 24, 2000: Amtr LANCAIR360, Kernville, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 09-24-2000, Mr. Harold woodruff, a private pilot, flying as pilot in command of his Lancair 360, N360HW, departed chino, CA, for the Kern Valley…

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.

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