# NTSB WPR22LA056: Monte Clark Vans RV8, N889WT, Hamilton, MT, December 5, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 5, 2021, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Hamilton, MT
- Coordinates: 46.1517, -114.0728
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1517&lon=-114.0728&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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 FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104351
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104351/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104351
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA056

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.

## 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: [Monte Clark VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05637LK), [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: [Monte Clark VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05637LK), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Monte Clark VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05637LK), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Monte Clark VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05637LK), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Monte Clark VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05637LK), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tail wheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll with a crosswind, the airplane began to swerve left and right as the tail wheel started to come down. The airplane the veered left off the runway onto the grass and collided with a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N889WT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N889WT), registered now, S/N 83469, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MONTE CLARK VANS RV8
- Registry model: [Monte Clark VANS RV8](https://openairdocs.org/model/monte-clark-vans-rv8) (registry code 05637LK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Superior IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-io-360-series) (registry code 59251, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 83469
- Year built: 2018
- Airframe hours: 100
- Engines: Superior IO 360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2021
- Departed: 32S, Stevensville, MT
- Destination: 6S5, Hamilton, MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 6S5, Ravallit, runway 35, 4,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 630 total, 100 in this make and model, 630 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KHLN, 91 nm away
- METAR: KHLN 051753Z 07006KT 10SM SCT060 M02/M08 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP265 T10171083 10017 21033 51030 $

## 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 20211205020229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211205020229A), Dec 5, 2021: Monte Clark VANS RV8, Hamilton, MT, Substantial damage. Decent to runway required left aileron and significant right rudder to maintain runway alignment. Touchdown was positive with no bounce. During roll-out a left…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104351. 12.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 11.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13014700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%20WPR22LA056%20Hamilton%20MT_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13012256&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-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.

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