- Date
- November 9, 2013, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- LaGrange, WY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N510MAAviat A 1B
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 4, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20131109021149A
- Case key
- 88408
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 decision to land on a rough surface with hidden obstructions (holes).
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 after touchdown on the grass/sod airstrip, the landing roll was normal for about 100 feet, but then the airplane came to an abrupt stop, like it had hit something. The airplane nosed over substantially damaging the rudder and wings. The pilot and ranch personnel inspected the landing area and followed the airplane's tracks back toward the point of touchdown. They found a large hole, likely dug by an animal, approximately 24" deep, and in line with the airplane's right tire track. The pilot said he did not see the hole when flying downwind, nor on the base leg, or final approach. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that after touchdown on the grass/sod airstrip, the landing roll was normal for about 100 feet, but then the airplane came to an abrupt stop, like it had hit something. The airplane nosed over substantially damaging the rudder and wings. The pilot and ranch personnel inspected the landing area and followed the airplane's tracks back toward the point of touchdown. They found a large hole, likely dug by an animal, approximately 24" deep, and in line with the airplane's right tire track. The pilot said he did not see the hole when flying downwind, nor on the base leg, or final approach. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N510MA
- Reported as
- Aviat A 1B (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2322
- Built
- 2005
- Airframe hours
- 517
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 7, 2013
- Departed
- LMO · Longmont, CO
- Destination
- LaGrange, WY
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
- 66
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 30, 2013
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 3,100 total · 431 in this make and model · 2,997 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KTOR, 20 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB 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.