# NTSB LAX07CA018: Codding/Fluno Sportsman GS-2, N429AD, Hopland, CA, October 20, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 20, 2006, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Hopland, CA - Coordinates: 39.040439, -122.929893 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0404&lon=-122.9299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64759 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64759/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA018 ## Probable cause the pilot's excessive braking during landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. A contributing factor was the erroneous windsock indication, which prompted the pilot to land with a tailwind, and inadvertently increase his landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airport facilities,wind direction indicator - false/incorrect indication (contributing factor) - wind information - incorrect (contributing factor) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane nosed over after the pilot applied firm braking during the landing roll. The pilot landed the tailwheel equipped airplane on his grass airstrip after assessing the wind direction with the aide of a windsock. During the landing roll the pilot realized that the remaining runway was decreasing and applied firm braking. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Upon exiting the airplane the pilot noticed the wind was blowing from a direction opposite than the windsock indicated. He examined the windsock and found that it was caught in a guide wire and was indicating opposite the actual wind direction. ## Factual narrative On October 20, 2006 at 1230 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built Codding/Fluno Sportsman GS-2 airplane, N429AD, nosed over during the landing roll at a private airstrip near Hopland, California. The builder/private pilot, who was the sole occupant, operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot was not injured during the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight that originated from the Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, California, at 1210. The flight was destined for the private airstrip near Hopland. According to the written statement provided by the pilot, he overflew his private airstrip and noticed the windsock favoring the wind from the west. He flew the tail wheel equipped airplane in a right traffic pattern to land to the west, as the 1,400-foot-grass runway was oriented east-west. After landing the pilot realized he was running out of remaining runway and applied firm braking, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. The pilot secured the fuel and electric systems and exited the airplane. He then noticed the wind was blowing from the east. After examining the airstrip's windsock he noted that the sock tail was caught in a guide wire and was indicating opposite the actual wind direction. The pilot has since repaired his airstrip's windsock. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N429AD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N429AD-2008-01-25), registration cancelled 2008-01-25, S/N 7052, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Codding/Fluno Sportsman GS-2 - Registry model: [Codding G D/Fluno J SPORTSMAN GS-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/codding-g-d-fluno-j-sportsman-gs-2) (registry code 05619GC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7052 - Airframe hours: 76 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2006, 13 hours before - Departed: STS, Santa Rosa, CA - Destination: Hopland, CA - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 27, 1,400 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,346 total, 46 in this make and model, 1,304 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 20061020030379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061020030379A), Oct 20, 2006: GLASTARGS2, Santa Rosa, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft piloted by [privacy data omitted] left sts heading locally to a Private strip. The pilot flew over and checked the windsock and started to… 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.