# NTSB WPR09CA291: Clarke Colin A Glastar, N1935C, Wenatchee, WA, June 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 14, 2009, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Wenatchee, WA - Coordinates: 47.398887, -120.203056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3989&lon=-120.2031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74069 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA291 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74069/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74069 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA291 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot turned right base with the intention of landing at a grass strip adjacent to the runway. During the turn a glider reported that it was on the left downwind for the same landing area. The pilot then elected to overshoot the final turn in order to allow room for the glider to land. During the final turn, the pilot allowed the airspeed to decay and the airplane began to stall. He applied full engine power, but the airplane descended and impacted the ground, collapsing the right main landing gear and causing substantial damage to the forward fuselage. No mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe were observed prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot turned right base with the intention of landing at a grass strip adjacent to the runway. During the turn a glider reported that it was on the left downwind for the same landing area. The pilot then elected to overshoot the final turn in order to allow room for the glider to land. During the final turn, the pilot allowed the airspeed to decay and the airplane began to stall. He applied full engine power, but the airplane descended to ground impact collapsing the right main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage during the accident sequence. No mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe were observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1935C (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Clarke Colin A Glastar - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5035 - Airframe hours: 216 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KEAT, Wenatchee, WA - Destination: KEAT, Wenatchee, WA - Airport: KEAT, Pangborn Memorial Airport, runway 07, 4,460 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 9,618 total, 225 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: KEAT ## 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 20090614009019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090614009019A), Jun 14, 2009: Amtr GLASTAR, Wenatchee, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot was giving his nephew a local sight-seeing flight and during the landing the pilot stated that he had a quartering tailwind and stalled the airplane on… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74069. 524 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.