# NTSB LAX96LA171: Bryan Glasair 3SH-3R, N7TR, Sedona, AZ, April 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 1996, 19:15 local (Apr 16, 1996, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Sedona, AZ - Coordinates: 34.940368, -111.940559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9404&lon=-111.9406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29421/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA171 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged landing flare which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and his improper recovery technique. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to attain a proper initial touchdown point on the runway surface during dusk light conditions. ## 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 - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis At dusk, the pilot made a hard landing, bounced, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. An airport official reported that an examination of the runway impact and tire track evidence indicated the airplane initially touched down with its left main landing gear tire off the left side of the runway surface. Thereafter, the airplane collided with two left side runway lights. The airplane came to rest 20 feet beyond the left side of the runway and 1,500 feet from the threshold. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 1996, at 1915 hours mountain standard time, a homebuilt experimental William A. Bryan, Jr., Glasair 3SH-3R, N7TR, owned and operated by the pilot, made a hard landing and nosed over at the Sedona airport, Sedona, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Wickenberg, Arizona, at 1850. The president of the Sedona Airport Administration reported that, as a result of the accident, the runway and adjoining property was examined. Based upon the examination, tire track and impact evidence indicated that the accident airplane appeared to have initially touched down with its left main landing gear tire off the left side of the runway pavement. The initial touchdown occurred approximately 300 feet upwind from the threshold of runway 03. Thereafter, the airplane appeared to have bounced into the air. It next contacted the ground with all three wheels about 300 feet upwind. The airplane then collided with two of the left side runway lights and finally came to rest in the median area between the runway and the parallel taxiway. The airplane was found in an upside-down attitude, with a collapsed nose gear, about 20 feet beyond the left side of the runway and 1,500 feet from the threshold. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7TR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BRYAN GLASAIR 3SH-3R (GLASAIR 3S) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3062 - Airframe hours: 761 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-KIG5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles I. Thrash - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 1996, 13 hours before - Departed: E25, WICKENBERG, AZ - Destination: SEZ - Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 3, 5,131 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 0° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19960415007339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960415007339A), Apr 15, 1996: Amtr GLASAIRIII, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. Landed one wheel off runway. Bounced hit runway lights. Collapsed nose gear and nosed over. 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.