# NTSB LAX02LA224: McConnell Lancair 320, N320DM, Sedona, AZ, July 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 2002, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Sedona, AZ - Coordinates: 34.848609, -111.788612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8486&lon=-111.7886&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55207/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55207 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA224 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for a right, quartering tailwind during landing resulting in a loss of aircraft control and dragging a wing during the landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - tailwind - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the airplane on landing after encountering a right quartering tailwind, resulting in the left wing contacting the ground. Winds were from 160 degrees at 5-6 knots. The pilot said that after crossing the threshold of runway 3, a "burst" of wind hit the airplane's right side, lifting the right wing. The pilot added power in an attempt to stabilize the airplane, but the wind pushed the airplane "strongly to the left" and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane spun to the left, the propeller hit the ground, and the airplane skidded across the infield before coming to rest inverted. The pilot indicated that the normal procedures at the airport were to land on runway 3, which sloped uphill, and takeoff on runway 21, which sloped downhill, when the winds were less than 10 knots. Review of available airport information revealed no published special procedures for takeoff and landing due to the slope of the runway. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2002, about 1130 mountain standard time, an amateur-built, experimental McConnell Lancair 320 airplane, N320DM, contacted the runway with the left wing prior to landing and came to rest inverted in a drainage culvert at the Sedona Airport (SEZ), Sedona, Arizona. The airplane, operated by the owner/pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed the McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ), Carlsbad, California, at 0940. The flight was scheduled to terminate at SEZ. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he received a weather briefing before departure for the route of flight, which reported light and variable winds at the destination. The pilot then departed and experienced a uneventful flight except for a "few bumps." About 12 miles from Sedona, the pilot listened to the automated weather observation system (AWOS) frequency, which reported the winds from 160 degrees at 5-6 knots. The pilot then made his initial call to SEZ traffic stating his intention to enter the traffic pattern for runway 3. The pilot added that the normal procedure at SEZ was to land on runway 3 due to its upward slope, and takeoff downhill on runway 21 unless the winds are greater than 10 knots. The pilot became established on final approach. As the airplane crossed the threshold, the descent was normal, the pilot noted the airspeed was gradually bleeding off, and he was waiting for the wheels to touch down. He said that suddenly a "burst of wind hit from the right side," "lifting the right wing." The pilot added power and attempted to stabilize the airplane; however, the wind pushed the airplane "strongly to the left" and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane spun to the left, the propeller hit the ground, and the airplane skidded across the infield stopping inverted just short of the inner taxiway. The private pilot accumulated a total of 813 hours of flight time, of which 161 hours were obtained in the accident airplane. A review of the Airport/Facility Directory and AirNav's Airport website, revealed no procedures for landing and takeoff due to the runway slope. The runway is 5,132 feet long, and the threshold elevation of runway 3 and 21 are 4,735.8 feet and 4,829.5 feet mean sea level (msl), respectively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N320DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N320DM-2005-05-23), registration cancelled 2005-05-23, S/N 307 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McConnell Lancair 320 - Registry model: [Mcconnell David B LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcconnell-david-b-lancair-320) (registry code 05618EX) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 307 - Airframe hours: 210 - Engines: Lycoming I0-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Franklin E. Mace - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2001, 45 hours before - Departed: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Destination: SEZ, Sedona, CA - Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 3, 5,132 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 5, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 813 total, 161 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: SEZ ## 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 20020713015969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020713015969A), Jul 13, 2002: Amtr LANCAIR320, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 13, 2002, about 1130 mountain standard time, an experimental mcconnell Lancair 320 airplane, N320DM, contacted the runway with the left wing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55207. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 387 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Airport Manager Report (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40213517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Manager%20Report-Master.PDF - Airport Information (item 3, .PDF, 830 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40213518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Information-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.