# NTSB LAX96LA015: Petrik Questair Venture, N6UN, Crescent City, CA, October 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 1995, 15:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Crescent City, CA - Coordinates: 41.780639, -124.160453 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7806&lon=-124.1605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29312/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA015 ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot reported that the aircraft is very short-coupled and tends to oscillate laterally when lightly loaded. Just after touchdown the aircraft began to oscillate and the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft veered off the runway, encountered soft soil, and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 1995, at 1520 hours Pacific daylight time, a Petrik Questair Venture homebuilt experimental airplane, N6UN, nosed over in soft soil after veering off runway 29 while landing at Crescent City, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. 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, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Crescent City on the day of the accident at 1440 as a local area personal flight. The pilot reported to FAA inspectors that the aircraft is very short coupled and tends to oscillate laterally when lightly loaded. Just after touchdown on runway 29 the aircraft began to oscillate and the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft veered off the runway, encountered soft soil, and nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the aircraft. According to FAA medical records, the pilot's third-class medical certificate was issued on the basis of a medical flight test due to the amputation of his left arm. The pilot reported that his recency of experience consisted of 23 hours in the previous 90-day period and 2 hours in the previous 30-day period. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6UN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6UN-2003-03-12), registration cancelled 2003-03-12, S/N 40 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PETRIK QUESTAIR VENTURE (QUESTAIR V) - Registry model: [Petrik Gene J QUESTAIR VENTURE](https://openairdocs.org/model/petrik-gene-j-questair-venture) (registry code 05618FD) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 40 - Airframe hours: 240 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-550-61B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gene J. Petrik - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CEC - Airport: CEC, Mcnamara Field, runway 29, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 240 in this make and model, 2,935 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CEC ## 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 19951019049129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951019049129A), Oct 19, 1995: Crescentcity, CA, Substantial damage. (-16) The pilot in command lost control of the aircraft on the runway after touch down. The pilot in command couldn't provide a current flight review date. ## Other investigations on N6UN (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX02LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA273), Sep 4, 2002: Petrik Questair Venture (N6UN), Crescent City, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was low ceiling. 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.