# NTSB WPR22LA233: GMK Ventures AL18, N17GK, Moab, UT, June 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 27, 2022, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Moab, UT - Coordinates: 38.757631, -109.75346 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7576&lon=-109.7535&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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105370/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105370 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA233 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a landing attempt, which resulted in a ground loop and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the absence of an airspeed indicator due to an alternator failure. ## 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: [GMK Ventures AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639GV), [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: [GMK Ventures AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05639GV), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: alternator-generator drive sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [GMK Ventures AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md?model=05639GV), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md) - [Navigation system: airspeed/mach indicating](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023414): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [GMK Ventures AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023414/cases.md?model=05639GV), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023414/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: [GMK Ventures AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05639GV), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [GMK Ventures AL18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05639GV), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, he experienced an alternator failure approximately 47 minutes from his destination airport. He switched to a backup battery, but within 2 minutes the entire electrical system shut down, which included a loss of his airspeed and altitude indicators. When he reached the airport, he intentionally flew fast to provide a buffer against stalling the airplane as he was in high density altitude conditions. While over the runway at about 5 ft above ground level, he overflew the runway at the same altitude to bleed off excess airspeed. As the airplane decelerated the pilot was unable to determine when the airplane would touchdown due to the loss of his airspeed indicator. According to the pilot, the right main landing gear touched down first followed by the left main landing gear, at which point the airplane began to ground loop. The left elevator impacted a runway light, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot report no other preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17GK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17GK), registered now, S/N AL-331, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GMK VENTURES LLC AL18 - Registry model: [GMK Ventures AL18](https://openairdocs.org/model/gmk-ventures-al18) (registry code 05639GV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Cont IOX370 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cont-iox370-series) (registry code 17501, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AL-331 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 310 - Engines: Continental IOX370CLE1T8 195 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gmk Ventures LLC - Registered owner: Gmk Ventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 2021, 29.2 hours before - Departed: TWF, Twin Falls, ID - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CNY, Canyonlands Rgnl, runway 03, 7,361 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review February 10, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 603 total, 330 in this make and model, 532 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: KCNY, 1 nm away - METAR: KCNY 271953Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/08 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP181 T02940078 ## 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 20220627011389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220627011389A), Jun 27, 2022: Gmk Ventures LLC AL18, Moab, UT, Substantial damage. Narrative/investigation: our office was notified on June 27, 2022 of an airplane accident that occurred on June 27, 2022 at approximately 1350 local time. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105370. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14147092&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email correspondence with accident pilot (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14146566&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=email%20corr%20with%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14147230&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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.