# NTSB WPR13CA260: Wampach Murphy Moose, N331RW, Galt, CA, June 1, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 1, 2013, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Galt, CA
- Coordinates: 38.334167, -121.303337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3342&lon=-121.3033&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87087
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87087/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87087
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA260

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in an abnormal runway contact.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Richard A Wampach AEROMOOSESSNA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0563129), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Richard A Wampach AEROMOOSESSNA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0563129), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Richard A Wampach AEROMOOSESSNA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=0563129), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282); cases with it: [Richard A Wampach AEROMOOSESSNA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=0563129), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Richard A Wampach AEROMOOSESSNA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0563129), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Richard A Wampach AEROMOOSESSNA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0563129), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he had flown into the airport previously, but never in the accident airplane. While on final approach, he noticed power lines between his position and the runway, and he "pulled back" on the pitch control to overfly the power lines. The pilot continued the approach and landing, but in the flare, the airplane "dropped and bounced." When the airplane was airborne after the bounce, he added power to initiate a go-around. However, the airplane did not climb as expected, and he was experiencing directional control problems. The pilot reduced power, and landed the airplane in a field adjacent to the runway. During the rollout in the field, the pilot noticed a ditch ahead of him, perpendicular to his direction of travel, and about 5 to 10 feet wide. He added power to attempt to fly over the ditch, but the main gear struck the far side of the ditch, which damaged the landing gear and fuselage structure. The airplane came to rest about two to three airplane lengths beyond the ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage, right wing, and empennage, including the rudder control system. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he had flown into the airport previously, but never in the accident airplane. While on final approach, he noticed power lines between his position and the runway, and he "pulled back" on the pitch control to overfly the power lines. The pilot continued the approach and landing, but in the flare, the airplane "dropped and bounced." When the airplane was airborne after the bounce, he added power to initiate a go-around. However, the airplane did not climb as expected, and he was experiencing directional control problems. The pilot reduced power, and landed the airplane in a field adjacent to the runway. During the rollout in the field, the pilot noticed a ditch ahead of him, perpendicular to his direction of travel, and about 5 to 10 feet wide. He added power to attempt to fly over the ditch, but the main gear struck the far side of the ditch, which damaged the landing gear and fuselage structure. The airplane came to rest about two to three airplane lengths beyond the ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage, right wing, and empennage, including the rudder control system. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N331RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N331RW-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N RW-108, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Wampach Murphy Moose (Aeromooses)
- Registry model: [Richard A Wampach AEROMOOSESSNA](https://openairdocs.org/model/richard-a-wampach-aeromoosessna) (registry code 0563129) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-J3C5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-j3c5d) (registry code 42361, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: RW-108
- Airframe hours: 31
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Wampach
- Registered owner: Richard Wampach
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, December 7, 2012
- Departed: PVF, Placerville, CA
- Destination: 2CL9, Galt, CA
- Airport: 2CL9, Mustang Airport, runway 25, 4,000 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 4,092 total, 31 in this make and model, 3,597 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: MHR, 17 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 20130601009789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130601009789A), Jun 1, 2013: Richard A Wampach AEROMOOSESSNA, Galt, CA, Substantial damage. On June 1, 2013, at approximately 1000 PDT, N331RW, a Richard a. wampach Aeromoosessna, a high-wing, tailwheel-equipped experimental aircraft, was…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87087. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 668 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- METARs (item 3, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.PDF
- Photo 1. Left Front View (FAA photo) (item 4, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Left%20Front%20View%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2. Right Front View (FAA photo) (item 5, .PDF, 256 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395572&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20Right%20Front%20View%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3. Right Aft View (FAA photo) (item 6, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20Right%20Aft%20View%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4. Left Horizontal Stabilizer (FAA photo) (item 7, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%20Left%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 5. Tailwheel Assembly (FAA photo) (item 8, .PDF, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%20Tailwheel%20Assembly%20(FAA%20photo)-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.

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