# NTSB WPR20CA043: John Sample Bearhawk, N719JS, Nampa, ID, December 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 16, 2019, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Nampa, ID - Coordinates: 43.580001, -116.519996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5800&lon=-116.5200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100695 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100695/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100695 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in impact with a knoll and a subsequent ground-loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sample John W BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056253K), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: [Sample John W BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056253K), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Sample John W BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=056253K), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/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: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Sample John W BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=056253K), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Sample John W BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056253K), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Sample John W BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056253K), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after an uneventful flight, he verified the current weather conditions about 10 miles from the airport and subsequently entered the airport traffic pattern, at which point he chose to land on a grassy area between the runway and taxiway. The airplane touched down normally, but during the landing roll, the pilot saw an obstacle in the middle of the grassy area. The pilot was unable to react before the right main landing gear impacted a knoll, and the airplane ground looped. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, after an uneventful flight, he verified the current weather conditions about 10 miles from the airport and subsequently entered the airport traffic pattern, at which point he elected to conduct a "grass landing." The airplane touched down normally, but during the landing roll he observed an obstacle in the middle of the "runway." The pilot was unable to react before the right main landing gear impacted a knoll and the airplane ground looped. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing was substantially damaged. The airplane landed on an area of grass between the runway and taxiway when it impacted the grass knoll. According to the airport manager, pilots are advised to land and takeoff on published runways only as prescribed under the airport policy page of the airport's website. This information is not available in the airport's chart supplement. The pilot indicated that he checked the chart supplement for pertinent airport information, which did not include any restrictions about landing on the grass area between the taxiway and runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N719JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N719JS), registered now, S/N 050-91/92-796, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JOHN Sample BEARHAWK (No Series) - Registry model: [Sample John W BEARHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/sample-john-w-bearhawk) (registry code 056253K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-B4B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-b4b5) (registry code 42340, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 050-91/92-796 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 678.1 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-54-B485 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 2018, 34 hours before - Departed: MAN, Nampa, ID - Destination: MAN, Nampa, ID - Airport: MAN, Nampa Muni - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 583 total, 39 in this make and model, 504.6 as pilot in command, 4.9 in the last 90 days, 2.9 in the last 30 days, 1.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.50 inHg ## 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 20191216022089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191216022089A), Dec 16, 2019: Sample John W BEARHAWK, Nampa, ID, Substantial damage. Airman was performing local area pattern work on 16 December, 2019 in N719JS, an experimental Bearhawk, s/n 2008 Sample John W, for his second flight of the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100695. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480368&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 3, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Master.PDF - Nampa Airport Policy Excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 429 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Nampa%20Airport%20Policy%20Excerpt%20-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480371&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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.