# NTSB WPR10CA403: Air Creation Clipper 582S, N468DW, Petaluma, CA, August 14, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 14, 2010, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Petaluma, CA - Coordinates: 38.273612, -122.684997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2736&lon=-122.6850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA403 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76967/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76967 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA403 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper flare, resulting in a hard landing and nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05901HK), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05901HK), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05901HK), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05901HK), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis While about 10 feet above ground level when landing to a private airstrip, the airplane suddenly descended and landed hard on all three landing gear. When it bounced back into the air, the airplane veered to the left. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was taking a friend for a short flight. He landed on a private airstrip at a cow pasture where a radio control model airplane club regularly met. The friend got into the back seat and they took off. The pilot stated that there was a "stiff breeze blowing." They flew for about 25 minutes and then returned to the cow pasture. The pilot reported that about 10 feet above ground level, all of a sudden the airplane descended and landed hard on all three landing gear. When it bounced back into the air, the trike veered to the left. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane went up on its nose and then came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the trike. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N468DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N468DW-2018-02-16), registration cancelled 2018-02-16, S/N T99075, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR CREATION CLIPPER 582S - Registry model: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-creation-clipper-582s) (registry code 05901HK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T99075 - Airframe hours: 545 - Engines: Rotax 582S 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 2010, 75 hours before - Departed: O69, Petaluma, CA - Destination: Petaluma, CA - Airport: O69, Petaluma Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 31, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 380 total, 375 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: APC, 16 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 20100814042419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100814042419A), Aug 14, 2010: Air Creatio CLIPPER 582, Petaluma, CA, Substantial damage. While slowing to touchdown a quartering gust of wind made the aircraft unstable and dumped it to the left on its side. This resulted in a hard landing and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76967. 838 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 838 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336530&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.