# NTSB WPR22LA104: Christopher P Gage Shortfield Explorer, N141E, Coeur d'Alene, ID, February 18, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 18, 2022, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Coeur d'Alene, ID - Coordinates: 47.772619, -116.81682 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7726&lon=-116.8168&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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): 104696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104696/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104696 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare which, resulted in a bounced landing, loss of airplane control and subsequent nose over. ## 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: [Christopher P Gage SHORTFIELD EXPLORER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05638L1), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher P Gage SHORTFIELD EXPLORER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05638L1), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher P Gage SHORTFIELD EXPLORER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05638L1), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Christopher P Gage SHORTFIELD EXPLORER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05638L1), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, he planned for a wheel landing. Shortly after the main landing gear touched down followed by the tailwheel, the main landing gear lifted off the ground. The pilot pitched the airplane forward, but the airplane continued to bounce. The pilot again applied forward pressure to the control stick when the tail lifted, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The rudder, wing struts and forward fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N141E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N141E), registered now, S/N 001, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHRISTOPHER P GAGE SHORTFIELD EXPLORER (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Christopher P Gage SHORTFIELD EXPLORER](https://openairdocs.org/model/christopher-p-gage-shortfield-explorer) (registry code 05638L1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2a) (registry code 42137, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 2614.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 B2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 31, 2021 - Departed: KCOE, Coeur d' Alene, ID - Destination: KCOE, Coeur d' Alene, ID - Airport: COE, Coeur d' Alene Pappy Boyington Field, runway 2/20, 5,400 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: unknown; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 235 total, 22 in this make and model, 235 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KCOE - METAR: KCOE 182356Z AUTO 23003KT 10SM CLR 09/01 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP283 6//// T00940006 10100 2050 56010 PNO $= ## 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 20220218002109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220218002109A), Feb 18, 2022: Christopher P Gage SHORTFIELD EXPLORER, Hayden, ID, Substantial damage. During landing practice at kcoe, the pilot was performing a wheel landing (conventional gear-type aircraft), ballooned, and attempted to force the aircraft to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104696. 2.3 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=13796503&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20N141E%20(004)_RedactedFLAT-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13803516&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. --- 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.