# NTSB LAX08CA114: Murphy Murphy Rebel, N3VK, Grass Valley, CA, April 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2008, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Grass Valley, CA - Coordinates: 39.223888, -121.003051 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2239&lon=-121.0031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67853 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67853/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. ## 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: [Kuklo Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05619SW), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Kuklo Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=05619SW), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuklo Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05619SW), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Kuklo Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05619SW), [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: [Kuklo Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619SW), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land the tailwheel equipped airplane on an upsloping runway. The airplane touched down normally on the asphalt runway surface. During the landing roll the airplane began to ground loop. The pilot added power in an effort to recover and the airplane continued off the runway surface and encountered a ditch, incurring damage to the left fuselage structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. He added that the wind conditions were light and variable. ## Factual narrative In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land the tail wheel equipped airplane on an upsloping runway. The airplane touched down normally on the asphalt runway surface. During the landing roll the airplane began to ground loop. The pilot added power in an effort to recover and the airplane continued off the runway surface. The airplane encountered a ditch and incurred damage to the left fuselage structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. He added that the wind conditions were light and variable. In the section titled RECOMMENDATION (How could this accident have been prevented) of the pilot's written report (NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, Form 6120.1), the pilot stated that he should have first practiced landings at the departure airport, as it had been awhile since he had flown. He noted in the same section that most of his flight time was conducted with landings on grass strips, where the airplane maneuvers differently than the asphalt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3VK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3VK-2018-01-03), registration cancelled 2018-01-03, S/N 001, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Murphy Aircraft Murphy Rebel - Registry model: [Kuklo Thomas C MURPHY REBEL](https://openairdocs.org/model/kuklo-thomas-c-murphy-rebel) (registry code 05619SW) (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: 001 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: O27, Oakdale, CA - Destination: GOO, Grass Valley, CA - Airport: GOO, Nevada County Air Park, runway 07, 4,350 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 326 total, 50 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 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 20080417838109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080417838109A), Apr 17, 2008: Amtr REBEL, Grass Valley, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed at Grass Valley airport and encountered a quarting gust of wind from the tail. Aircraft was undergoing flight testing, in phase 1 after… 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.