# NTSB WPR18TA212: ICP Savannah, N951RA, Fairfield, UT, August 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: August 5, 2018, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, UT - Coordinates: 40.262222, -112.093055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2622&lon=-112.0931&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 97998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18TA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97998/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97998 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA212 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control after encountering a downdraft on approach to the runway. ## 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: [Jensen Paul G SAVANNAH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05630HZ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Jensen Paul G SAVANNAH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=05630HZ), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/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 base: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Jensen Paul G SAVANNAH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05630HZ), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Jensen Paul G SAVANNAH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05630HZ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jensen Paul G SAVANNAH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05630HZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight and had maneuvered the airplane onto the base leg of the traffic pattern for his destination airport. He stated that the airplane likely encountered a downdraft and experienced a loss of lift. Despite his attempts to arrest the descent by adding full throttle, the airplane impacted terrain short of the runway. The pilot thought that the accident may have been prevented if he had configured the airplane to land in a steeper and higher approach, combined with more airspeed. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 05, 2018, about 0800 mountain daylight time, an experimental Jensen ICP Savannah airplane, N951RA, encountered a downdraft and impacted terrain short of the runway at the West Desert Airpark, Fairfield, Utah. The private pilot received minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal cross-country flight originated from Spanish Fork Airport Springville-Woodhouse Field, Spanish Fork, Utah, about 0700 and was destined for Fairfield. The pilot stated that while on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane experienced a loss of lift. Despite his attempts to arrest the descent by adding full throttle, the airplane collided with the desert terrain short of the runway. The pilot opined that the airplane had likely encountered a severe downdraft and the engine power was not sufficient to overcome the resulting descent rate. He thought that the accident may have been prevented if he had configured the airplane to land in a steeper and higher approach combined with more airspeed. He further stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N951RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N951RA-2026-07-27), registration cancelled 2026-07-27, S/N 05-01-51-365 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ICP Savannah - Registry model: [Jensen Paul G SAVANNAH](https://openairdocs.org/model/jensen-paul-g-savannah) (registry code 05630HZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 05-01-51-365 - Year built: 2010 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 2017 - Departed: SPK, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: UT99, Fairfield, UT - Airport: UT99, West Desert Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 606 total, 379 in this make and model, 555 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 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 20180805010129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180805010129A), Aug 5, 2018: Jensen Paul G SAVANNAH, Fairfield, UT, Substantial damage. According to the pilot, ?I was descending for a landing when my plane lost lift and began to stall. I immediately applied full throttle for maximum power, but… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97998. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467832&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.