- Date
- August 28, 1998, 18:00 local (Aug 29, 1998, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gilroy, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N883TMMohr EAA Biplane P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 20, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980828022909A
- Case key
- 43927
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for the existing crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses reported that the grass strip is located adjacent to a lake used for water landings. They stated that wind direction was 90 degrees from the runway at 20 knots, and the pilot was landing on runway 23. The witnesses reported that the landing appeared normal, but the pilot was unable to maintain directional control on the landing rollout. Witnesses stated that the pilot attempted a go-around, but ground looped the aircraft which came to rest inverted in the water. The pilot did not notify the authorities that he had been involved in an aircraft accident. The aircraft was moved by the pilot to an unknown location and was unable to be inspected.
Factual narrative
On August 28, 1998, at 1800 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Mohr EAA Biplane P, N883TM, veered off grass runway 23 and came to rest inverted at the Frazier Lake Airpark, Hollister, California. The aircraft, operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The noncertificated private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time.
One witness, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designated pilot examiner, stated that the grass strip is located adjacent to a lake that is used for water landings. He stated that after the aircraft landed it departed the left side, went into the water, and came to rest inverted.
Witnesses to the accident reported that the winds were approximately 90 degrees to the runway at 20 knots. They further stated that the landing was normal, but on the landing rollout the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. Witness stated that the pilot attempted to conduct a go-around, but ground looped the aircraft.
Review of the pilot's FAA Airman Certification file disclosed that his private pilot certificate was revoked on October 25, 1988, and his medical certificate was revoked on October 12, 1988.
The accident was reported to the Safety Board on September 9, 1998. The location of the aircraft is unknown at this time. The pilot/owner was given a Pilot/Operator's Report Form 6120.1/2, and a copy was sent by certified mail to him with no response.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N883TM
- Reported as
- Mohr EAA Biplane P (EAA BIPLAN)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 81283
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dan Minges
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- Unknown
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 1C9 · Frazier Lake Airpark, runway 23, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 603 total · 534 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MRY, 32 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.