# NTSB LAX98LA288: Ryan ST3KR, N22JK, Los Banos, CA, September 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1998, 17:00 local (Sep 10, 1998, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Los Banos, CA - Coordinates: 37.07069, -120.839576 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0707&lon=-120.8396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43929 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43929/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA288 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to takeoff in adverse wind conditions and inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind conditions, which resulted in a failure to maintain runway alignment. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - gusts - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - attempted, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot had landed at the airport over an hour earlier with no problems and waited to meet another airplane. On departure he estimated the winds to be 20 to 30 knots approximately 90 degrees to the runway. After a long takeoff roll he lifted off. As he relaxed the controls the aircraft drifted off the runway and settled into the dirt. At that time the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. Noticing a ditch and cornfield in his path the pilot tried to ground loop the airplane. The aircraft turned sharply into the wind and the tail dug into the soft dirt. Both wing tips scraped the ground, the left main landing gear was bent, the fuselage was twisted behind the cockpit, and the tail cone was dented. A mechanic at the field noted that the aircraft that had departed immediately prior to this aircraft had veered off and then back on the runway during takeoff. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1998, at 1700 hours Pacific daylight time, a Ryan ST3KR, N22JK, ground looped during a rejected takeoff at Los Banos, California. The personal cross-country flight was a continuation of a flight to Chandler Field, Fresno, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot/owner and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated he landed over an hour earlier with no problems and waited to meet another airplane. He estimated the winds were 20 knots gusting to 30 knots, about 90 degrees to the runway at takeoff. After a long ground roll he lifted off with the flight controls in an extreme cross-controlled position. Upon neutralizing the controls the airplane immediately drifted off the right side of the runway and settled into the dirt. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff and keep the airplane on the ground. A ditch and a cornfield were in his path. He cut power and turned the aircraft sharply into the wind. During this maneuver the tail wheel dug into the soft ground beside the runway. Both wing tips scraped the ground, the left main landing gear was twisted, the fuselage was bent behind the cockpit, and the tail cone was bent. An aircraft mechanic that worked at the airport estimated the winds to be 25 to 30 knots and 70 to 80 degrees off the runway heading. He also noted that the airplane that took off immediately prior to the accident had trouble departing. That aircraft had veered off the runway before coming back onto the runway and lifting off. He stated that the pilot told him he had stomped on the rudder to ground loop the airplane to avoid a ditch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22JK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22JK), registered now, S/N 1697, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ryan ST3KR - Registry model: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr) (registry code 7830502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1697 - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: Kinner R-55 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John W. Mcmains - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 1997, 20 hours before - Departed: LSN - Destination: FCH, FRESNO, CA - Airport: LSN, Los Banos Municipal, runway 32, 3,005 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 653 total, 222 in this make and model, 520 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MCE, 22 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980909022859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980909022859A), Sep 9, 1998: Ryan ST3KR, Los Banos, CA, Substantial damage. Ryan aeronautical ST3KR acft ground looped on takeoff. (-23)this accident occurred as a result of an attempted takeoff in a crosswind that exceeded the pilot's… ## Other investigations on N22JK (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 OAK74DVM14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVM14), Dec 2, 1973: Ryan PT-22 (N22JK), Morgan Hill, CA, no damage 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.