# NTSB WPR20CA261: Aviat A1, N327MN, Kernville, CA, August 8, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2020, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Kernville, CA - Coordinates: 36.224166, -118.497779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2242&lon=-118.4978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101771 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101771/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101771 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA261 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around, which resulted in an impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during short final, just before he initiated a landing flare, he lost sight of the dirt airstrip and initiated a go around. Shortly after, the pilot turned right, but he quickly realized that he would not be able to outclimb several treetops, so he lowered the nose attitude. Subsequently, the right wing struck a tree, the airplane impacted the ground at a steep angle and came to rest inverted. The airplane's wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during short final, just before he initiated a landing flare, he lost sight of the dirt airstrip and initiated a go around. Shortly after, the pilot turned right, but he quickly realized that he would not be able to outclimb several treetops, so he lowered the nose attitude. Subsequently, the right wing struck a tree, the airplane impacted the ground at a steep angle and came to rest inverted. The airplane's wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N327MN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N327MN-2022-10-12), registration cancelled 2022-10-12, S/N 3241, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT A1 - Registry model: [Aviat A-1C-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-200) (registry code 2210411) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1D6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1d6) (registry code 41822, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3241 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 170 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 2019, 39 hours before - Departed: SNA, Santa Ana, CA - Destination: PVT, Kernville, CA - Airport: PVT, PVT Burnt Corral Meadow - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,481 total, 40 in this make and model, 1,304 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KPTV, 31 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 20200808019339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200808019339A), Aug 8, 2020: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-200, Burnt Corral Me, CA, Substantial damage. During the landing flare at Burnt Corral meadown the pilot reported losing sight of the airstrip due to trees in front of the aircraft. The pilot decided to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101771. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10337644&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA261%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10063513&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA261%20N327MN%20Damage%20Photo_redacted-Rel.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.