# NTSB WPR11CA134: Bal-Air Inc/Wayne John K Christen Eagle, N17AJ, Groveland, CA, February 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 12, 2011, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Groveland, CA - Coordinates: 37.861667, -120.178611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8617&lon=-120.1786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78362 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78362/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78362 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA134 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for crosswind conditions and maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bal-Air Inc/Wayne John K CHRISTEN EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05658A9), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bal-Air Inc/Wayne John K CHRISTEN EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05658A9), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bal-Air Inc/Wayne John K CHRISTEN EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05658A9), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bal-Air Inc/Wayne John K CHRISTEN EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05658A9), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bal-Air Inc/Wayne John K CHRISTEN EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05658A9), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that as the airplane settled on the runway, it passed several hangars and a hill, and the tail was pushed by a crosswind. The pilot tried to correct the movement but was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the runway at 35-40 mph, pivoted up on the nose, twisted to the right, and settled back down on its landing gear. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that the airplane and engine experienced no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated on the NTSB Pilot Aircraft Accident Report that as the airplane settled on runway 27 it passed some hangars and a hill, and the tail was pushed by a crosswind. The pilot tried to correct the movement but was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the runway at 35-40 mph, pivoted up on the nose, twisted to the right, and settled back down on its landing gear. Substantial damage to the left wing tip of the top wing was identified. The pilot reported that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17AJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17AJ-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 001, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BAL-AIR INC/WAYNE JOHN K CHRISTEN EAGLE - Registry model: [Bal-Air Inc/Wayne John K CHRISTEN EAGLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/bal-air-inc-wayne-john-k-christen-eagle) (registry code 05658A9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 805 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Miller Roger D Jr - Registered owner: Miller Roger D Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 1, 2010 - Departed: KOAR, Marina, CA - Destination: KE45, Groveland, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KE45, Pine Mountain Lake, runway 27, 3,624 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 12, 2009; seat: rear; flight hours: 504 total, 287 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 20110212002459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110212002459A), Feb 12, 2011: Bal-Air Inc CHRISTEN EA, Groveland, CA, Substantial damage. During rollout after approach and landing on runway 27 in calm/light wind conditions the aircraft was struck by an unexpected gust of wind from the left. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78362. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344674&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photos (2 embedded photos) (item 2, .PDF, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344685&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(2%20embedded%20photos)-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.