# NTSB WPR11LA389: Glasair Sportsman, N117CE, Pinedale, WY, August 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2011, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Pinedale, WY - Coordinates: 42.791667, -109.81472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7917&lon=-109.8147&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81530 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA389 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81530/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81530 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA389 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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: [Glasair SPORTSMAN GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056290V), [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: [Glasair SPORTSMAN GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056290V), [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: [Glasair SPORTSMAN GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056290V), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Glasair SPORTSMAN GS-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056290V), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was demonstrating landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a mowed grass field, which sloped from left to right. The main wheels touched the ground without incident but, as the tail dropped the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied right brake and full right rudder in an attempt to control the airplane, yet it continued to swerve until it was 90 degrees relative to the direction of travel. The right main landing gear subsequently separated and the right wing and stabilizer contacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damaged to the fuselage, stabilizer, and right aileron. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2011, about 1200 mountain daylight time, a Glasair Aviation LLC Sportsman GS-2, N117CE, ground looped during an off-airport landing in Pinedale, Wyoming. Glasair Aviation was operating the experimental amateur-built class, market survey category airplane, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damaged to the fuselage, stabilizer, and right aileron during the accident sequence. The local flight departed Ralph Wenz Field Airport, Pinedale, Wyoming, about 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he was demonstrating landing the tailwheel equipped airplane into a mowed grass field, which slopped from left to right. The landing flare was normal as both main wheels touched the ground. As the tail dropped, the airplane veered sharply to the left. He applied right brake and full right rudder in an attempt to control the airplane, however, it continued to swerve until it was 90 degrees relative to the direction of travel. The right main landing gear subsequently separated, and the right wing and stabilizer made contact with the ground. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N117CE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N117CE-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 7326, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Glasair Aviation LLC Sportsman (GS-2) - Registry model: [Glasair SPORTSMAN GS-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/glasair-sportsman-gs-2) (registry code 056290V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-M1A+](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1a-plus) (registry code 41869, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7326 - Airframe hours: 169 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-360-M1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Glasair Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Glasair Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2011, 39 hours before - Departed: PNA, Pinedale, WY - Destination: PNA, Pinedale, WY - Airport: PNA, Pinedale ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KPNA, 10 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 20110808018059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110808018059A), Aug 8, 2011: Glasair Aviation LLC SPORTSMAN GS-2, Pinedale, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot [privacy data omitted] stated that he was demonstrating a landing in the mowed hay field, which had a slight sloped from left to right. He stated that… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81530. 344 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355562&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.