# NTSB WPR23LA111: Glasair Sportsman, N2847H, Cal-Nev-Ari, NV, February 19, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 19, 2023, 10:57 local (18:57 UTC) - Place: Cal-Nev-Ari, NV · desert; BLM landed protected tortoise sanctuary. - Coordinates: 35.315886, -114.81139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3159&lon=-114.8114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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): 106758 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106758/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106758 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA111 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff with known damage to the wing and his failure to maintain directional control during takeoff on rough terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05627J2), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05627J2), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05627J2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05627J2), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: [Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05627J2), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05627J2), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05627J2), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, he planned an off-airport landing on a dirt road. He performed a series of passes to confirm the road condition and decided to proceed with the landing. During the rollout, the dirt road elevation lowered with respect to the berms on either side, and the wings contacted vegetation, which damaged the left wing. The pilot and his passenger exited the airplane to inspect the damage and determined that the airplane was airworthy and able to fly to a nearby airport with only the pilot onboard. The pilot stated that for the accident takeoff, near rotation speed, the left main wheel dropped into a rut of soft sand, the airplane veered left, the left wing contacted a berm, and the airplane spun around and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the wings and fuselage. Witnesses reported that they saw the airplane climb before veering left and descending back to the ground. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2847H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2847H), registered now, S/N 7065, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Glasair Sportsman - Registry model: [Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2](https://openairdocs.org/model/hasbargen-w-hasbargen-c-sportsman-gs2) (registry code 05627J2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7065 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 744 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 3, 2022, 40 hours before - Departed: MYF, San Diego, CA - Destination: 1L4, Cal-Nev-Ari, CA - Airport: NONE, BLM dirt road - Equipment: Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,656 total, 729 in this make and model, 5,864 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 14 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KIFP, 16 nm away - METAR: KIFP 191852Z 35014KT 20SM SCT120 18/M08 A3006 ## 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 20230219001689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230219001689A), Feb 19, 2023: Hasbargen W/Hasbargen C SPORTSMAN GS2, Cal Nev Ari, NV, Substantial damage. On Sunday 19 February 2023, the pilot intended to hike spirit mountain in the Nevada desert near cal-nev-ari, NV. It's on blm land just east of the 1L4… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106758. 7.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15145147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (stephenson) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15178455&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WitnessStatement_1-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (d'ambrosi) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15179839&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WitnessStatement_2-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15189241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo1-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.