# NTSB LAX08CA123: Ervin SHA Glasair, N41SS, Elk Creek, CA, April 26, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 26, 2008, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Elk Creek, CA - Coordinates: 39.570278, -122.604164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5703&lon=-122.6042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67919 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67919/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA123 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged landing flare, inadequate bounced landing recovery technique, and failure to attain and maintain an adquate airspeed during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the short runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area length](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Ervin Donald E SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md?model=05655MT), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ervin Donald E SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05655MT), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ervin Donald E SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05655MT), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Ervin Donald E SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05655MT), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ervin Donald E SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05655MT), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Ervin Donald E SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05655MT), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ervin Donald E SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05655MT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following a normal approach for landing on the short grass runway, the airplane touched down two times before the pilot added power to abort the landing. As he added power to takeoff, the airplane touched down a third time. He tried to hold the airplane in ground effect to allow the airplane to accelerate to climb airspeed; however, he was not able to maintain the airplane's altitude and the airplane touched down a final time. As the airplane bounced into the air, he made a turn to the left to avoid a fence and trees at the end of the runway. The airplane was headed towards an enclosed valley, so the pilot made a slight right turn towards uphill tree covered terrain. He reduced the power and placed the airplane in a nose high attitude prior to colliding with a tall tree. ## Factual narrative The pilot made a normal approach for landing at a grass strip. After clearing trees on final, he slowed the airplane to 75 miles per hour (mph), and then he had to add power to slow his descent. The airplane touched down near the beginning of the 2,000-foot runway; the pilot estimated he had 1,800 feet of runway remaining after touchdown. After the initial touchdown the airplane bounced into the air, landed, and bounced back into the air again. At that point, the pilot was at his "normal spot for a go/no-go decision for a go-around." As he added power to go around, the airplane touched down for a third time. The pilot believed he had 1,400 feet of runway remaining. He tried to hold the airplane in ground effect until the airplane could accelerate. The pilot was not able to maintain altitude and the airplane touched down on the runway again with 700 feet of runway remaining. The pilot stated that at that point his options were limited to hitting a fence or the trees at the end of the runway. The airplane had become airborne after the final bounce. The pilot turned the airplane to the left towards a valley with "no way out." He realized that he had to pick a spot to put the airplane down, so he turned the airplane to the right toward an upsloping hill with trees. The pilot reduced the power and placed the airplane in a nose high attitude prior to colliding with a tall oak tree. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. In his written report, the pilot reported that he has had over 20 years of flying experience in a Cessna, and he was very familiar with the runway. He had also completed extensive training in the accident airplane at the accident airport. The pilot identified several different factors in the accident flight that allowed the airplane to not reach an airspeed that was suitable for a go-around; passenger weight, multiple touchdowns, and upslope of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41SS-2010-04-01), registration cancelled 2010-04-01, S/N 241 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ervin SHA Glasair - Registry model: [Ervin Donald E SHA GLASAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ervin-donald-e-sha-glasair) (registry code 05655MT) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 241 - Airframe hours: 702 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tony Sorce - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2007 - Departed: 90CL, Elk Creek, CA - Destination: 90CL, Elk Creek, CA - Airport: 90CL, Diamond M Ranch Airport, runway 27, 2,400 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review May 1, 2007; flight hours: 708 total, 56 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 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 20080426835989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080426835989A), Apr 26, 2008: Ervin SHAGLASAIR, Elk Creek, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing takeoff and landings at the airport. Pilot failed to take into consideration the lack of ground effect from a grass runway. During a touch… 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.