# NTSB WPR11LA096: Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, N57027, Warner Springs, CA, January 11, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 10, 2011, 17:24 local (Jan 11, 2011, 01:24 UTC) - Place: Warner Springs, CA - Coordinates: 33.284442, -116.67472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2844&lon=-116.6747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78144 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78144/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78144 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wind sock pole during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger were conducting a local flight when it became dark and they decided to divert to a nearby airport. As they approached the unlit airport, the left wing impacted the airport wind sock pole, located to the left of the approach end of the runway. Following the impact, the airplane collided with the ground. The accident occurred 2 minutes after the end of civil twilight. ## Factual narrative On January 10, 2011, at 1724 Pacific standard time, N57027, a Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, collided with a wind sock pole while attempting to land on runway 8 at Warner Springs Gliderport, Warner Springs, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot survived the accident but later succumbed to his injuries, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office responding deputy, the passenger stated that they intended to fly to Borrego Valley Airport, Borrego Springs, California. They diverted to Warner Springs because it was getting dark and weather conditions were deteriorating. While approaching runway 8, the airplane impacted a wind sock pole with the left wing. The pilot, age 87, held a commercial pilot certificate for airplane single and multi-engine land. He held an expired third class medical that was issued on December 1, 2008. It held the limitations that the pilot must wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision. The airport manager reported that the runway does not have pilot-activated runway lights. He indicated that the wind sock was located about 70 yards before the approach end of the runway and 30 yards left of it. The airport is surrounded by mountainous terrain. The US Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department reported that sunset was at 1726 and the end of civil twilight occurred at 1759. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57027](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57027-2017-10-20), registration cancelled 2017-10-20, S/N 1594, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RYAN AERONAUTICAL ST3KR - Registry model: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr) (registry code 7830502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1594 - Engines: KINNER R5 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard Hawkins - Registered owner: Donald Hawkins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: F70, Temecula, CA - Destination: CL35, Warner Springs, CA - Airport: CL3, Warner Springs, runway 08, 4,700 × 70 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 87; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KRNM, 19 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 20110110000379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110110000379A), Jan 10, 2011: Ryan Aerona ST3KR, Warner Springs, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. 01/12/2011: Spoke with [privacy data omitted] (cami - okc) today concerning airman [privacy data omitted] medical certificate. [privacy data omitted] Wanted to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78144. 1.4 MB in all. - Police Report Excerpt (item 1, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation- Airport Manager (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354310&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20Airport%20Manager-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Aircraft at Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Aircraft%20at%20Accident%20Site-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.