# NTSB WPR23LA190: Aviat A-1C-180, N12HD, Elko, NV, May 12, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 12, 2023, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Elko, NV - Coordinates: 40.824999, -115.79133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8250&lon=-115.7913&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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 Reno FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 174532 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/174532/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=174532 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA190 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, prior to commencing his approach to land the reported wind at the airport was variable at 5kts. During landing the tail of the airplane rose and shifted to the left at touchdown. The pilot attempted to recover, but the airplane ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the left and right ailerons. Upon exiting the aircraft, the pilot observed the windsock indicating a quartering tailwind. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12HD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12HD), registered now, S/N 3401, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C-180 - Registry model: [Aviat A-1C-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-180) (registry code 2210410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1p) (registry code 42259, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3401 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 25 - Engines: Lycoming O360A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, October 24, 2022, 25 hours before - Departed: KHND, Henderson, NV - Destination: KEKO, Elko, NV - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EKO, Elko Regional, runway 24, 7,454 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,873 total, 423 in this make and model, 2,816 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KEKO - METAR: KEKO 121756Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 18/M03 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP200 T01831028 10183 20022 58001 ## 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 20230512013189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230512013189A), May 12, 2023: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-180, Elko, NV, Substantial damage. VFR flight departed khnd - henderson, NV at 6:55 am, destination keko - Elko, NV. Departed VFR and obtained VFR flight following services from las vegas… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=174532. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16106943&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N12HD_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 986 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16200335&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N12HD%20Accident%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.