# NTSB LAX90LA299: de Havilland DH-82A, N82KF, Petaluma, CA, August 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1990, 13:01 local (21:01 UTC)
- Place: Petaluma, CA
- Location: 38.2420° N, 122.6286° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Petaluma, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2420&lon=-122.6286&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26904
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA299
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26904/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA299

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH, THE CROSSWIND WAS ABT 10 - 15 DEG OFF THE NOSE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN WHEELS, BUT WHEN THE TAILWHEEL BEGAN TO SETTLE AT ABT MIDFIELD, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECT CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE ENTERED INTO SOFT DIRT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAT NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. GND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE WINDS AT THE APPROACH END WERE LIGHT & VARIABLE, BUT AT MIDFIELD THE WINDS WERE EXTREMELY VARIABLE AND GUSTY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82KF-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N N5490, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DH-82A
- Registry model: [Dehavilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-tiger-moth-dh-82a) (registry code 2801002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Dehav ENG GIPSY MAJOR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/dehav-eng-gipsy-major) (registry code 20004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 90681
- Engines: de Havilland 1C 130 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Traversi, David C.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: 069
- Destination: 069
- Airport: 069, Petaluma, runway 29, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,264 total, 43 in this make and model, 1,017 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900824036009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900824036009A), Aug 24, 1990: Dhavxx DH82AROBRTSN, Petaluma, CA, Substantial damage. Veered off runway landing and nosed over. Pilot blamed a wind gust that exceeded the crosswind component.

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.

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