# NTSB SEA97LA135: Bucker Flugzeugbau 1.131 Jungmann, N1XW, Cottage Grove, OR, June 11, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 11, 1997, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Cottage Grove, OR
- Coordinates: 43.709663, -123.029983 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7097&lon=-123.0300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42626
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42626/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA135

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve and gear collapse.  The wet runway surface was a related factor.

## 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
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

While landing on a wet runway in his tailwheel equipped biplane, the pilot allowed the aircraft to initiate a ground loop/swerve, and his remedial action was not sufficient to execute a recovery. During the ground loop, the aircraft spun 180 degrees to the right, collapsing the main landing gear.

## Factual narrative

On June 11, 1997, approximately 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Bucker 1.131 Jungmann, N1XW, ground looped during the landing roll at Cottage Grove State Airport, Cottage Grove, Oregon. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which had been airborne about 30 minutes, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, he was landing in a light rain and the runway surface was wet. In a written statement, the pilot said that, "During rollout, before brake application, a ground loop developed which I was unable to correct it in time." Although he attempted remedial action to stop the ground loop, the aircraft spun 180 degrees to the right. During the ground loop, the main gear collapsed, and the aircraft's wings impacted the pavement. NTSB records show that this pilot was involved in a ground-loop accident in the same aircraft on July 23, 1993.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1XW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bucker Flugzeugbau 1.131 JUNGMANN (1.131 JUNG)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 628
- Airframe hours: 1033
- Engines: EMSA G4B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mcausland, Robert R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1997, 33 hours before
- Departed: EUG, EUGENE, OR
- Destination: 61S
- Airport: 61S, Cottage Grove State, runway 15, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,767 total, 440 in this make and model, 2,740 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken

## 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 19970611045199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970611045199A), Jun 11, 1997: Cottage Grove, OR, Substantial damage. Ground looped on landing roll. Collapsed main gaer. Damaged wings. Had prior ground loop history.

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.

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