# NTSB WPR22LA141: Fernandes Dale R Glasair II S-FT, N727DF, Saline Valley, CA, April 2, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 2, 2022, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Saline Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 36.802403, -117.77346
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8024&lon=-117.7735&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104884
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104884/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104884
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA141

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to establish a controlled descent rate during landing which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fernandes Dale R GLASAIR II S-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05604CS), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fernandes Dale R GLASAIR II S-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05604CS), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Fernandes Dale R GLASAIR II S-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=05604CS), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Fernandes Dale R GLASAIR II S-FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05604CS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while on final approach, he reduced airspeed which resulted in a higher angle of attack and blocking his visibility of the approach threshold. The glide path steepened, and the airplane touched down short of the airstrip. The right main landing gear collided with a rock and sheared off. Shortly thereafter, the left main landing gear sheared off and the airplane slid down the runway substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N727DF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N727DF-2023-04-06), registration cancelled 2023-04-06, S/N 2126, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FERNANDES DALE R GLASAIR II S-FT
- Registry model: [Fernandes Dale R GLASAIR II S-FT](https://openairdocs.org/model/fernandes-dale-r-glasair-ii-s-ft) (registry code 05604CS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2126
- Year built: 1997
- Airframe hours: 1750
- Engines: Lycoming IO360-B1E 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: SQL, San Carlos, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: N/A, Saline Valley Warm Springs Airfield, runway 18, 1,350 × 30 ft, dirt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,718 total, 1,318 in this make and model, 1,673 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KBIH, 44 nm away
- METAR: KBIH 021856Z AUTO 24004KT 10SM CLR 21/M01 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP126 T02111006

## 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 20220402008749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220402008749A), Apr 2, 2022: Fernandes Dale R GLASAIR II S-FT, Saline Valley, CA, Substantial damage. On April 2, 2022, N727DF, a glasair ii, under VFR conditions landed at the Saline Valley airport (chicken strip), California. According to the pilot he had…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104884. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13849542&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Picture at accident site (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13849442&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2002%20-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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