# NTSB LAX02LA128: Wilson Magnum, N229JW, Woodland, CA, April 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 2002, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Woodland, CA - Coordinates: 38.709098, -121.850845 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7091&lon=-121.8508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54477/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54477 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA128 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain airplane control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis During landing, the pilot touched down hard in a southwesterly direction on the grass airstrip and collapsed the main landing gear and a wing. The pilot indicated that he had increased engine power to attempt to maintain control, but he was not successful. The wind was from the north at 5 knots, with gusts to 15 knots, and he may have been "behind the airplane" during the landing flare. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 2002, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Wilson Avid Magnum, N229JW, made a hard landing in a pasture about 30 miles west of Woodland, California. The experimental, amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot/builder on a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Willows, California, about 1200. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he landed in a southwesterly direction on his 1,300-foot-long grass-covered airstrip. The airplane bounced upon touchdown, and he increased engine power. The pilot further reported that he lost directional control of the airplane when a main landing gear collapsed and a wing broke. No mechanical malfunctions were experienced prior to the mishap. The pilot indicated that at the time the prevailing wind was from the north, at 5 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. He stated that he may have been "behind the airplane" during the landing flare. In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," he indicated that after the landing flare occurred a wind gust from the north lifted the airplane's right wing. This caused a hard touchdown on the left landing gear, which subsequently collapsed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N229JW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N229JW-2018-01-12), registration cancelled 2018-01-12, S/N 81M (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Wilson Magnum - Registry model: [Wilson John W MAGNUM](https://openairdocs.org/model/wilson-john-w-magnum) (registry code 056014M) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81M - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A3A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John W. Wilson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: WLW, Willows, CA - Destination: Woodland, CA - Airport: Private Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 185 °F ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54477. 299 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.