# NTSB LAX08CA048: Waltermire Glastar, N248DW, Vacaville, CA, January 19, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 19, 2008, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Vacaville, CA - Coordinates: 38.377777, -121.961669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3778&lon=-121.9617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67410 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67410/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA048 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing and a lack of experience in conventional gear airplanes. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Waltermire Richard D GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0561459), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Waltermire Richard D GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=0561459), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Waltermire Richard D GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=0561459), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Waltermire Richard D GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0561459), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Waltermire Richard D GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0561459), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot took off with the intent of flying around the traffic pattern. The pilot's first two attempted landings terminated in go-arounds after the airplane experienced a series of bounces on the runway. On the third attempted landing, the pilot lost directional control. The airplane swerved off the runway and went into a ditch. The pilot's experience flying tailwheel airplanes was 3 hours and he had not received a flight instructor's endorsement to act as pilot-in-command of tailwheel equipped airplanes. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative On January 19, 2008, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Waltermire Glastar, N248DW, swerved off runway 02 during landing at the Nut Tree Airport, Vacaville, California. The experimental homebuilt airplane was equipped with conventional (tail wheel) landing gear, and after exiting the runway it went into a ditch. The airplane's right wing and engine separated from the fuselage. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial certificated pilot was not injured. The passenger received a minor injury. The flight was performed under the provisions 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Vacaville about 1200. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he intended to fly the airplane around the traffic pattern. The airplane bounced on the runway during the first two attempted landings, whereupon he applied engine power and performed go-arounds. The pilot reported that he lost directional control of the airplane during the third attempted landing. While attempting to regain control he applied full engine power and overcorrected while manipulating the flight controls. His efforts at regaining control were not successful. The pilot also reported that his experience flying the accident model of airplane was about 3 hours. The pilot acknowledged that he did not have a logbook endorsement to fly tail wheel equipped airplanes. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunction was experienced during the flight. He stated to the Safety Board investigator that the accident was "just my fault." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N248DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N248DW-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 5571, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waltermire Glastar - Registry model: [Waltermire Richard D GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/waltermire-richard-d-glastar) (registry code 0561459) (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: 5571 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas R. C. Smith - Registered owner: Richard D. Waltermire - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: VCB, Vacaville, CA - Destination: VCB, Vacaville, CA - Airport: VCB, Nut Tree, runway 02, 4,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,125 total, 3 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - 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 20080119012539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080119012539A), Jan 19, 2008: Amtr GLASTAR, Vacaville, CA, Destroyed. (-23) The owner requested that the pilot [privacy data omitted] charge the battery on his aircraft. A group of gentlemen helped start the aircraft by jumping… 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.