# NTSB WPR14CA150: Just Highlander, N553GW, Yakima, WA, March 28, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 27, 2014, 17:30 local (Mar 28, 2014, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Yakima, WA - Coordinates: 46.567501, -120.538887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5675&lon=-120.5389&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 June 18, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88981/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88981 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA150 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind conditions and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision, resulting in a loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Just HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05901Z3), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings with the flight instructor during gusting crosswind conditions. On the fifth touchdown, the tailwheel equipped airplane bounced and the student increased engine power. The airplane settled back down to a three-point landing. During the ground roll, the right wing lifted up and the instructor applied full right aileron, down elevator, and full right rudder control. The wing continued to lift, and the airplane began to turn left. The instructor applied full engine power as the airplane departed the runway. The left wing touched the ground and the airplane continued another 50 feet, rotating onto the right wing, and then nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and both wings during the accident sequence. The pilot's reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings with the flight instructor during gusting crosswind conditions. On the fifth touchdown, the tailwheel equipped airplane bounced and the student increased engine power. The airplane settled back down to a three-point landing. During the ground roll, the right wing lifted up and the instructor applied full right aileron, down elevator, and full right rudder control. The wing continued to lift, and the airplane began to turn left. The instructor applied full engine power as the airplane departed the runway. The left wing touched the ground and the airplane continued another 50 feet, rotating onto the right wing, and then nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and both wings during the accident sequence. The pilot's reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N553GW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N553GW), registered now, S/N JAE5C0106, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JUST AIRCRAFT LLC HIGHLANDER - Registry model: [Just HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/just-highlander) (registry code 05901Z3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: JAE5C0106 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 260 - Engines: JABIRU 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 2014 - Departed: YKM, Yakima, WA - Destination: YKM, Yakima, WA - Airport: YKM, Yakima Air Terminal/Mcallister, runway 27, 7,604 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review May 31, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 300 total, 29 in this make and model, 283 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 29 total, 20 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 14 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: KYKM ## 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 20140327003879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140327003879A), Mar 27, 2014: Just Aircraft LLC HIGHLANDER, Yakima, WA, Substantial damage. The instructor and student pilot were practicing touch and go landings on runway 27 at ykm. The control tower reported the wind was 280 at 20 KTS. The aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88981. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Airplane After Recovery (item 2, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20After%20Recovery%0D%0A-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.