# NTSB NYC01LA137: Graham Acro Sport, N877CG, Hampton, NH, June 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2001, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Hampton, NH - Coordinates: 42.962776, -70.828613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9628&lon=-70.8286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 52398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52398/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA137 ## Probable cause A soft area in the turf runway, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing rollout. ## 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 - terrain condition - soft (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot landed on a turf runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane encountered a soft area of recently-spread loam and began to veer to the left. The pilot was unable to correct before the airplane's landing folded, and the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot stated he experienced no mechanical problems with the airplane. According to the airport manager, about 2 inches of topsoil mixed with grass seed had been applied to the runway about a month prior to the accident. The manager added that the runway was soft due to recent precipitation. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2001, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Acro Sport, N877CG, was substantially damaged while landing at the Hampton Airport (7B3), Hampton, New Hampshire. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was landing on runway 02, a 2,100-foot long, 170-foot wide, turf runway. In a written statement, the pilot said he performed a normal crosswind touchdown on the left main landing gear and as the airplane slowed, the right main landing gear lowered to the ground. Shortly thereafter, the airplane encountered a soft area of recently spread loam and began to veer to the left. The airplane was still in a two point attitude. The pilot immediately corrected with full right rudder and brake; however he felt "only minor force acting to correct the extreme rapid condition." The airplane's landing gear began to fold, and the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot stated he experienced no mechanical problems with the airplane. According to the airport manager, about 2 inches of topsoil mixed with grass seed had been applied to the runway about a month prior to the accident. The manager added that the runway was soft due to recent precipitation. Additionally, a pilot who landed on the runway about a week prior to the accident reported he also experienced a "hard pull to one side" in the same area as the accident airplane. The winds reported at an airport about 8 miles north of Hampton Airport, about the time of the accident, were from 280 degrees at 9 knots, and variable between 260 and 330 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: N877CG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Graham Acro Sport - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 877 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John J. Carrol - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2001, 2 hours before - Departed: NONE, Auburn, NH - Destination: 7B3, Hampton, NH - Airport: 7B3, Hampton Airfield, runway 02, 1,200 × 170 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 14, 2000; seat: center; flight hours: 7,880 total, 147 in this make and model, 6,826 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PSM, 8 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 20010605015959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010605015959A), Jun 5, 2001: Amtr ACROSPORT, Hampton, NH, No damage. (-23) Aircraft left main wheel encountered soft, loose dirt during landing rollout on grass airport. Pilot stated steering and brake had no effect. Aircraft… 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.