- Date
- March 30, 2013, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place
- Thermal, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N14080Waco YMF-3
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 23, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130330005709A
- Case key
- 86548
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusting crosswind.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that before landing, the weather reporting system indicated a light and variable wind. While on final approach, the pilot noted that a left crosswind was present. The tailwheel-equipped airplane was about 2 to 3 feet above the runway, then it dropped abruptly onto the runway and bounced. The airplane settled back onto the runway, and the pilot noted that he was able to maintain directional control as the airplane slowed down; however, shortly after, the airplane suddenly veered sharply to the right. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and exited the runway surface into soft sand. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left lower wing struck the ground, which resulted in structural damage to the wing spar. The pilot added that shortly after the accident, the wind was from the southeast about 15 knots and gusting. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that prior to landing, the weather reporting system indicated a light and variable wind. While on final approach, the pilot noted that a left crosswind was present. As the tailwheel-equipped airplane was about 2 to 3 feet above the runway, it dropped abruptly onto the runway and bounced. The airplane settled back onto the runway and the pilot noted that he was able to maintain directional control as the airplane slowed down; however, shortly after, the airplane suddenly veered sharply to the right. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and exited the runway surface into soft sand. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left lower wing struck the ground, which resulted in structural damage to the wing spar. The pilot added that shortly after the accident, the wind was from the southeast at about 15 knots and gusting. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N14080
- Reported as
- Waco YMF-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4209
- Airframe hours
- 1,642
- Engine
- Jacobs R755-B2, 275 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert J. Juranich
- Registered owner
- Robert J. Juranich
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 29, 2013
- Departed
- UDD · Bermuda Dunes, CA
- Destination
- TRM · Thermal, CA
- Airport
- TRM · Jacqueline Cockran Regional, runway 35, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 21, 2012
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 230 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KTRM, 1 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 23, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 477 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.