# NTSB WPR22LA105: Shelton Joseph G S-7, N242K, Buckeye, AZ, February 19, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 19, 2022, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Buckeye, AZ · airport environment
- Coordinates: 33.418859, -112.67848 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4189&lon=-112.6785&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284)
- 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104697/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104697
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA105

## Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while on final approach to land which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Shelton Joseph G S-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05611Y9), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shelton Joseph G S-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05611Y9), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Shelton Joseph G S-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05611Y9), [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.

- [Approach: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) (defining event); cases with it: [Shelton Joseph G S-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md?model=05611Y9), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Shelton Joseph G S-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05611Y9), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Shelton Joseph G S-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05611Y9), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped experimental airplane reported that, he mistook a parking lot for what he thought was an ultralight/light sport runway. While on final approach he observed power lines that obstructed the approach. He pulled up to avoid the power lines; however, he did not add engine power and the airplane stalled, landed hard and veered to the right where it struck a water drum and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N242K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N242K), registered now, S/N 0101298, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SHELTON JOSEPH G S-7
- Registry model: [Shelton Joseph G S-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/shelton-joseph-g-s-7) (registry code 05611Y9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0101298
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 895
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: IGM, Kingman, AZ
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: BXK, Buckeye Municipal Airport
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,937 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: KBXK
- METAR: METAR KBXK 191655Z AUTO 11008KT 10SM 17/M05 A3016 RMK A01=

## 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 20220219002359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220219002359A), Feb 19, 2022: S-7, Buckeye, AZ, Substantial damage. On 2/19/2022, N242K was substantially damaged trying to land at Buckeye airport kbxk. Pilot approached trying to locate ultralight runway and incorrectly ended…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104697. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13849175&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot interview (FAA) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13610576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA105%20ROC%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (FAA) (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 576 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13610151&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-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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