# NTSB LAX98LA286: Emroth-Emair MA-1B, N88932, Lihue, HI, September 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1998, 08:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Lihue, HI - Coordinates: 21.970567, -159.349411 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.9706&lon=-159.3494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43892 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43892/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA286 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot lost directional control on the landing and the aircraft veered off to the left into a field. The tail wheel trunion collapsed and the left landing gear hit a large rock and broke off. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident and did not report experiencing any mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1998, at 0800 hours Hawaiian standard time, an Emroth-Emair MA-1B, N88932, ground looped while landing in a sugar cane field approximately 5 miles northwest of Lihue, Hawaii. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aerial application flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 137, originated at 0730 at the Lihue airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was landing on a paved roadway that ran through a sugar cane field to reload the aircraft with fertilizer for the 11th load of the day. He reported that the road was oriented east to west, and that he was landing toward the west. As the tail wheel touched down, the airplane veered off to the left into the field. The left landing gear hit a large rock on the shoulder of the airstrip and broke off. Both lower wings were damaged and the tail wheel trunion was collapsed. The pilot stated that the winds were calm at the time of the accident, and that on previous flights that day, he had landed to the west and taken off to the east. He did not report experiencing any malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88932](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88932-2013-07-03), registration cancelled 2013-07-03, S/N 044, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Emroth-Emair MA-1B - Registry model: [Emroth-Emair MA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/emroth-emair-ma-1b) (registry code 3280103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-1300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1300-series) (registry code 67060, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 044 - Airframe hours: 3198 - Engines: Wright R-1820-202A 1200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Murray Air Limited - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1998, 99 hours before - Departed: LIH, LIHUE, HI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 29,056 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19980909022919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980909022919A), Sep 9, 1998: Emair MA1B, Lihue, HI, Substantial damage. On September 9, 1998, at 0804 hours hawaiian standard time, an emroth-Emair MA-1B, N88932, ground looped while landing in a sugar cane field approximatley 5… ## Other investigations on N88932 (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 LAX90DJA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DJA01), Oct 6, 1989: Emair MA1-B (N88932), Hilo, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF A MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE WHICH CAUSED THE PILOT TO APPLY EXCESSIVE BRAKE PRESSURE TO AVOID DEPARTING A NARROW LANDING STRIP. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT ACCEPTING AN… 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.