# NTSB LAX07CA203: Rajhamsa Xair, N521F, Pima, AZ, July 4, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 4, 2007, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Pima, AZ - Coordinates: 32.847778, -109.881668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8478&lon=-109.8817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66172/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA203 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and his failure to maintain directional airplane control during landing rollout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment ## Analysis The student sport pilot lost directional control during landing rollout on runway 18. The experimental airplane veered off the runway and came to rest in a dry wash river bed with a bent fuselage. The pilot's son reported that he was waiting for his father to arrive at the airport, and he witnessed his father's approach to the runway. The son reported that the approach appeared normal. The son stated that he believed his father lost control of the airplane during landing. Runway 18 is 45 feet wide and 2,950 feet long. The airport's owner stated that the accident airplane appeared to have touched down on the center of the runway, about 500 feet upwind of the threshold. Thereafter, the airplane veered left and exited the left side of the runway. At the time, a light breeze was blowing from the east about 15 miles per hour. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2007, about 1015 mountain standard time, a Rajhamsa XAIR, N521F, veered off the runway during landing at the Flying J Ranch Airport, Pima, Arizona. The experimental airplane impacted a dry wash bed and sustained substantial damage with a bent fuselage. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The student sport pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the solo instructional flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Wilcox, Arizona, about 0900. The pilot's son reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he was waiting for his father to arrive at the airport, and he witnessed his father's approach to runway 18. The son reported that the approach appeared normal. The son stated that he believed his father encountered a gust of wind during landing, and thereafter, he lost control of the airplane. The airport's owner reported that his privately owned, public-use, airport's runway was 45 feet wide and 2,950 feet long. The dirt surface was in good condition. The owner stated that the accident airplane appeared to have touched down on the center of the runway, about 500 feet upwind of the threshold. Thereafter, the airplane veered left, exited the left side of the runway, and went into a dry wash bed. At the time, a light breeze was blowing from the east about 15 miles per hour. As of August 4, 2007, the National Transportation Safety Board has not received the "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report," form number 6120.1/2. The pilot's flight hours listed in this report are estimates. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N521F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N521F-2012-12-11), registration cancelled 2012-12-11, S/N 658, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rajhamsa XAIR - Registry model: [Rajhamsa XAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/rajhamsa-xair) (registry code 05901YS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582ULDCDI-99](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582uldcdi-99) (registry code 55560, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 658 - Engines: Rotax 582 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Russell Cox - Registered owner: Russell Cox - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 4AZ9, Wilcox, AZ - Destination: E37, Pima, AZ - Airport: E37, Flying J. Ranch, runway 18, 2,950 × 45 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 41; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 50 total, 30 in this make and model, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20070704018049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070704018049A), Jul 4, 2007: Amtr XAIRRAJHAMSA, Pima, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated during landing on runway 18 he experienced a sudden downdraft and was not able to control the aircraft. He stated that the aircraft was… 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.