# NTSB WPR20CA266: Aviat A-1C-200, N298WY, Grover, WY, August 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 10, 2020, 13:18 local (19:18 UTC) - Place: Grover, WY - Coordinates: 42.800556, -110.95777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8006&lon=-110.9578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 101780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101780/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101780 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA266 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to regain airplane control after a pilot-induced spin conducted during a flight test, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the experimental test airplane reported that the purpose of the flight was to conduct spin testing, in support of future airplane type certification. Prior to the accident, he had completed seven power on test spins in which all spins exhibited no unusual or flat tendency. During the accident flight, the test condition called for a spin from level flight, with flaps up, and aft center of gravity, heavy weight, to the left, with aileron opposite of the turn. After one 360o rotation, the nose was much higher above the horizon than prior test conditions. The pilot applied corrective controls with no effect on any axis. The pilot was not able to recover the airplane from the induced spin and subsequently disembarked the airplane about 10,180 ft mean sea level. The pilot deployed his emergency parachute and during his descent he noted that the airplane was in a flat spin to ground impact. The airplane impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot landed hard and sustained serious compression fractures in L1 and L2. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N298WY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N298WY), registered now, S/N 3298, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT A-1C-200 (Husky) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1C-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-200) (registry code 2210411) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-390-C3B6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-c3b6) (registry code 42710, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3298 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 73.5 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C3B6 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Aviat Aircraft Inc - Registered owner: Aviat Aircraft Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 29, 2020 - Departed: AFO, Afton, WY - Destination: AFO, Afton, WY - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 23, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,300 total, 34 in this make and model, 3,850 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KAFO, 5 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 20200810015509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200810015509A), Aug 10, 2020: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-200, Grover, WY, Substantial damage. R&d aircraft went into a flat spin and could not recover ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101780. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11419881&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - 6120_1 Complete narrative (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11420518&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Complete%20Narrative_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 802 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11419891&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-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.