# NTSB SEA08CA173: Cosmos Phase II, N311RT, Carson City, NV, August 7, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 7, 2008, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV - Coordinates: 39.192222, -119.734443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1922&lon=-119.7344&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Reno, Nevada - NTSB case key (mKey): 68647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68647/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA173 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cosmos PHASE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05901FK), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cosmos PHASE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=05901FK), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cosmos PHASE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=05901FK), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cosmos PHASE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901FK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During his first supervised solo flight, the student pilot did three touch-and-go landings without incident. During his fourth landing, he encountered a slight crosswind from his left, which pushed the airplane about 30 feet right of the 75-foot wide asphalt runway. The student pilot attempted to realign the airplane over the runway but was unsuccessful. He then was able to align the airplane with a dirt area to the right of the runway just past his intended landing area. The student pilot decided to continue and land the airplane in the dirt area adjacent to the runway. At an altitude of about 10 feet above ground level, he noticed a pile of dirt directly in the flight path of the airplane and attempted to go-around by applying full power. Subsequently, the airplane touched down, impacted the pile of dirt, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane by the student pilot revealed that both wings and airframe were structurally damaged. The student pilot stated that there were no anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During his first supervised solo flight, the student pilot did three touch-and-go landings without incident. During his fourth landing, he encountered a slight crosswind from his left, which pushed the airplane about 30 feet right of the 75-foot wide asphalt runway. The student pilot attempted to realign the airplane over the runway but was unsuccessful. He then was able to align the airplane with a dirt area to the right of the runway just past his intended landing area. The student pilot decided to continue and land the airplane in the dirt area adjacent to the runway. At an altitude of about 10 feet above ground level, he noticed a pile of dirt directly in the flight path of the airplane, and attempted to go-around by applying full power. Subsequently, the airplane touched down, impacted the pile of dirt, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane by the student pilot revealed that both wings and airframe were structurally damaged. The student pilot stated that there were no anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N311RT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N311RT), registered now, S/N B21476, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cosmos Phase II - Registry model: [Cosmos PHASE 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/cosmos-phase-2) (registry code 05901FK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 618](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-618) (registry code 55578, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: B21476 - Engines: Rotax 618 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dave Kempler - Registered owner: Ken McCormick - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CXP, Carson City, NV - Airport: CXP, Carson City Airport, runway 27, 5,906 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 0 total, 33 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °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 20080807841799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080807841799A), Aug 7, 2008: Cosmos PHASEII, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. (-23)The student pilot lost control during landing, touched down in the dirt and struck a berm approximately 100 feet from the runway centerline. 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.