# NTSB LAX95LA336: Sjostrand Wheeler Express, N360EZ, Mariposa, CA, September 14, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1995, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Mariposa, CA
- Coordinates: 37.489025, -119.999473 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4890&lon=-119.9995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA336
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA336

## Probable cause

the pilot's premature rotation and liftoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent hard touchdown.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - rotation - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED AIRCRAFT.  AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED DEPARTURE STALL AND SETTLED TO THE RUNWAY FROM ABOUT 12 FEET.  THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR.

## Factual narrative

On September 14, 1995, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Sjostrand Wheeler Express homebuilt experimental airplane, N360EZ, collided with the runway following a loss of control during the takeoff initial climb at Mariposa, California.  The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot, and was beginning a local area personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The aircraft incurred substantial damage.  The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that this was the first flight of the newly constructed aircraft.  After liftoff, the aircraft experienced an unexpected departure stall and settled to the runway from about 12 feet.  The aircraft touched down hard and collapsed the nose and left main landing gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N360EZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N360EZ), registered now, S/N SJ2146, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SJOSTRAND WHEELER EXPRESS (WHEELER EX)
- Registry model: [Sjostrand Gerald D WHEELER EXPRESS](https://openairdocs.org/model/sjostrand-gerald-d-wheeler-express) (registry code 05630DV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: SJ2146
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-ES1B 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gerald D. Sjostrand
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1995, 0 hours before
- Departed: O68
- Airport: 068, Mariposa Yosimite, runway 26, 3,310 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 10 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °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 19950914029849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950914029849A), Sep 14, 1995: Amtr WHELREXPRS, Mariposa, CA, Substantial damage. First flight of homebuilt. Stalled after lift off. Settled to runway. Pilot skill and aircraft design were factors.

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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