# NTSB LAX99LA247: Rose Velocity 173/FG-E, N137V, Santa Monica, CA, July 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 1999, 14:37 local (21:37 UTC) - Place: Santa Monica, CA - Coordinates: 34.009021, -118.489746 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0090&lon=-118.4897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46805/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA247 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and his 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, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis The pilot was on a return flight back to the airport, and after obtaining the ATIS, he made a right traffic pattern for runway 21. ATIS reported winds at 240 degrees and 12 knots. The pilot said that during the landing sequence just as the landing gear were about to touchdown, there was a strong gust of wind from the right, which lifted the wing significantly. The airplane was lifted 6 feet in the air and suddenly dropped to the ground. The airplane bounced and began to porpoise down the runway. The pilot applied full throttle and initiated a go-around. The plane accelerated and started to climb, but slowly due to the partially deployed speed brake. The airplane passed over the taxiway guardrail and clipped two airplanes parked next to a hangar. The airplane came to rest after it crossed another taxiway and hit a steel hangar door. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 1999, at 1437 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Velocity 173/FG-E, N137V, veered off the runway while landing at the Santa Monica, California, airport and collided with parked airplanes and a hangar. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and the one passenger sustained minor injuries. The personal flight, operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, originated from Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. There were no mechanical discrepancies with the airplane. In a written statement by the pilot, he stated that he departed Santa Monica en route to Camarillo Airport. After a brief stop, he departed for a return flight back to Santa Monica. There were no discrepancies en route to Santa Monica, and after obtaining the ATIS and a clearance from the air traffic control tower, he made a right traffic pattern for runway 21. ATIS reported winds at 240 degrees and 12 knots. The pilot stated this was a normal crosswind for this particular airport. During the landing sequence, just as the landing gear was about to touchdown, there was a strong gust of wind from the right, which lifted the wing significantly. The airplane was lifted 6 feet in the air and then suddenly dropped to the ground. The airplane bounced and began to porpoise down the runway. The pilot applied full throttle and initiated a go-around. The plane accelerated and started to climb, but slowly due to the partially deployed speed brake. The airplane passed over the taxiway guardrail and clipped two aircraft parked next to a hanger. The airplane came to rest after it crossed another taxiway and hit a steel hangar door. The pilot also stated that he spoke to witnesses at the airport who saw the accident. They stated that during the time of the accident they glanced at the windsock, which danced in all directions. The pilot said that one witness stated the windsock made a complete 360-degree circle. In a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector just after the accident, the pilot told the inspector that while landing on runway 21 he lost control, bounced a few times, veered off the runway, and hit two parked airplanes and a hangar. He stated that there were no mechanical discrepancies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N137V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N137V-2000-08-25), registration cancelled 2000-08-25, S/N 0394 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rose VELOCITY 173/FG-E (VELOCITY) - Registry model: [Rose Wesley A VELOCITY 173/FG-E](https://openairdocs.org/model/rose-wesley-a-velocity-173-fg-e) (registry code 05604QV) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0394 - Airframe hours: 180 - Engines: Velocity 173-FG-E 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Raymond Flade - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 1998, 71 hours before - Departed: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA - Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Airport, runway 21, 4,987 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 312 total, 54 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SMO ## 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 19990711008669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990711008669A), Jul 11, 1999: Amtr VELOCITY, Santa Monica, CA, Destroyed. Acft landed rwy 21, touched down past midfield, bounced (landed hard), touched down again, and bounced, pilot attempted to go around, angled to the left 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.