# NTSB WPR11CA022: Rotherwick Glasair III, N471B, Colville, WA, October 21, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 21, 2010, 16:39 local (23:39 UTC) - Place: Colville, WA - Coordinates: 48.543888, -117.883888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5439&lon=-117.8839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 77650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77650/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77650 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA022 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged approach and failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rotherwick HR GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=056291J), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rotherwick HR GLASAIR III, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056291J), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area length](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Rotherwick HR GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md?model=056291J), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rotherwick HR GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056291J), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Rotherwick HR GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=056291J), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Rotherwick HR GLASAIR III, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056291J), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane in calm wind conditions. The airplane touched down midway down the runway at stall speed. Upon touchdown, the pilot retracted the flaps and applied brake pressure, including full aft elevator, in an attempt to bring the airplane to a stop. With the end of the runway approaching, the pilot applied left brake in an effort to turn the airplane to the left and the airplane nosed over off the end of the runway. The pilot stated that he checked the brakes prior to flight, but felt that they did not function normally during the landing. A witness reported that when the airplane was landing, it floated in ground effect until about 100 feet beyond midfield. The landing gear contacted the runway and the airplane continued to decelerate until disappearing over the end of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that responded to the accident, skid marks led from the runway to the location where the airplane came to rest. The FAA inspector examined the braking system following the accident and found no mechanical anomalies. At the time of this writing, the pilot had not submitted NTSB Form 6120.1, the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported in a written statement that he was landing the airplane to the south on a 2,695-foot long runway, with winds from the south at 1-2 knots. The airplane touched down midfield at stall speed. Upon touchdown, the pilot retracted the flaps and applied moderate brake pressure, including full aft elevator to bring the airplane to a stop. With the end of the runway approaching, the pilot applied maximum brake pressure. Near the end of the runway the pilot applied left brake to turn the airplane to the left, and the airplane nosed over off the end of the runway. The pilot stated that he checked the brakes prior to flight, but felt that they did not function normally during the landing. A witness reported that when the airplane was landing, it floated in ground effect until about 100 feet beyond midfield. The landing gear contacted the runway, and the airplane continued to decelerate until disappearing over the end of the runway. According to the FAA inspector, skid marks led from the runway to the location where the airplane came to rest. The FAA inspector examined the braking system following the accident and found no mechanical anomalies. At the time of this report, the pilot had not submitted NTSB Form 6120.1, the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N471B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N471B-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 3380 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rotherwick Glasair III - Registry model: [Rotherwick HR GLASAIR III](https://openairdocs.org/model/rotherwick-hr-glasair-iii) (registry code 056291J) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3380 - Engines: Textron Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bill Perry - Registered owner: US Capital BanCorp - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 635, Colville, WA - Destination: 635, Colville, WA - Airport: 635, Colville Municipal, runway 19, 2,695 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 362 total, 50 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KDEW, 39 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 20101021048439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101021048439A), Oct 21, 2010: Rotherwick GLASAIR III, Colville, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed runway 19. Touched down near midfield. Pilot was unable to stop aircraft prior to reaching the end of the runway. Aircraft went off the south end… ## Other investigations on N471B (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR12CA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA213), May 17, 2012: Rotherwick HR Glasair III (N471B), Darby, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during an emergency landing on a paved highway. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77650. 987 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Email (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Email-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Colville Police Report Narrative (item 4, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Colville%20Police%20Report%20Narrative-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Airplane (Provided by FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Runway (Provided by FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Runway%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.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.