# NTSB WPR21LA006: Capella XLS, N7143A, Firth, ID, October 4, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 3, 2020, 19:13 local (Oct 4, 2020, 01:13 UTC) - Place: Firth, ID - Coordinates: 43.269389, -112.22431 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2694&lon=-112.2243&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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 FSDO SLC - NTSB case key (mKey): 102091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102091/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102091 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing flare which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and collision with the ground. ## 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: [Jonas Marcinko XLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05633Y3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Jonas Marcinko XLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05633Y3), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Jonas Marcinko XLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05633Y3), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Jonas Marcinko XLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05633Y3), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 15 ft above the ground, during the landing flare, the airspeed decreased, and the left wing dropped. The pilot applied full throttle control to recover from the stall, however the airplane continued to descend and touched down on the left land gear which collapsed. The airplane spun around substantially damaging the left aileron and lower rudder. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7143A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7143A), registered now, S/N 027, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Capella XLS - Registry model: [Jonas Marcinko XLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/jonas-marcinko-xls) (registry code 05633Y3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 027 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 450 - Engines: Rotax 912 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 20, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NONE, Pvt, runway Grass Strip, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review May 16, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 681 total, 450 in this make and model, 665 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 230° at 28 knots, gusting 39 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KIDA, 16 nm away - METAR: KIDA 211953Z 23028G39KT 10SM OVC049 13/01 A2986 RMK AO2 PK WND 22039/1911 SLP096 T01280006 ## 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 20201003016699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201003016699A), Oct 3, 2020: Jonas Marcinko XLS, Firth, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from home field around 1900 local time and flew south for 10 minutes. Made normal approach from the south. As pilot was approaching ground the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102091. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12292107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11512876&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR21LA006%20v2-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.