# NTSB WPR20CA271: Ryan ST3KR, N62130, Port Townsend, WA, August 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 16, 2020, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Port Townsend, WA - Coordinates: 48.05389, -122.810554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0539&lon=-122.8106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - 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): 101794 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101794/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101794 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA271 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with vegetation. ## 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: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7830502), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while landing he elected to change from a three-point landing to a two-point landing. Upon touch down, the airplane veered left and departed the runway surface. The pilot elected to go around and "applied full right rudder and power." Concerned the airplane would not gain enough altitude to clear the obstacles, the pilot reduced engine power and landed off the runway surface. Subsequently, the airplane impacted vegetation and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. 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, while landing he elected to change from a three-point landing to a two-point landing. Upon touch down, the airplane veered left and departed the runway surface. The pilot elected to go around and "applied full right rudder and power." Concerned the airplane would not gain enough altitude to clear the obstacles, the pilot reduced engine power and landed off the runway surface. Subsequently, the airplane impacted vegetation and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. 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: [N62130](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62130), registered now, S/N 1812, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ryan ST3KR - Registry model: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr) (registry code 7830502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1812 - Year built: 1943 - Airframe hours: 3500 - Engines: Kenner Motors Inc R55 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 2019 - Departed: 0S9, Port Townsend, WA - Destination: 0S9, Port Townsend, WA - Airport: 0S9, Jefferson County Intl, runway 27, 3,000 × 25 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 16, 2019; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 692 total, 39.5 in this make and model, 648 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: K0S9 ## 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 20200816013829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200816013829A), Aug 16, 2020: Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, Port Townsend, WA, Substantial damage. N62130 departed rwy 27 at Jefferson County International Airport and stayed in the traffic patter for touch and go landing practice. During the landing, after… ## 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=101794. 12.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 12.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10106350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA271%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10112029&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA271%20Damage%20Photo-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.