# NTSB WPR23LA246: Black Sheep CCX-1865, N510US, Big Creek Ranger Station, ID, June 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 28, 2023, 12:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Big Creek Ranger Station, ID · Mountain air strip - Coordinates: 45.14852, -115.00035 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1485&lon=-115.0003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 192488 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192488/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192488 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA246 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to identify the wet landing surface and his subsequent inability to maintain directional control and stop during landing on the unimproved grass runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and unintentional ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Black Sheep CCX-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=05634RB), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Black Sheep CCX-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05634RB), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Black Sheep CCX-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=05634RB), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Black Sheep CCX-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05634RB), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Black Sheep CCX-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05634RB), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Black Sheep CCX-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05634RB), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he conducted multiple passes over the landing area to assess the landing conditions and did not see that the grass surface was wet. Upon touchdown, he noticed the airplane did not decelerate as expected due to wet tires, and the brakes had little effect. The airplane veered off its intended path, heading toward steep downhill terrain. To prevent continuing uncontrollably downhill, the pilot attempted an intentional ground loop by applying full right rudder and power. Subsequently, the airplane tipped left and stopped before reaching the steeper terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left aileron and left elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N510US](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N510US), registered now, S/N CCX-1865-0007, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BLACK SHEEP AVIATION LLC CCX-1865 - Registry model: [Black Sheep CCX-1865](https://openairdocs.org/model/black-sheep-ccx-1865) (registry code 05634RB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerosport CC-340](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-cc-340) (registry code 01320, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CCX-1865-0007 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 435 - Engines: Titan CC340 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 16, 2023, 27 hours before - Departed: 3U2, Yellow Pine, ID - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: n/a, Mile Hi - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,800 total, 425 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KMYL, 49 nm away - METAR: KMYL 281851Z AUTO 08007KT 10SM FEW023 BKN049 BKN080 15/09 A3007 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW RAB36E50 SLP160 P0000 T01500094 $ ## 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 20230628008319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230628008319A), Jun 28, 2023: Black Sheep Aviation LLC CCX-1865, Big Creek, ID, Substantial damage. The pilot made an approach to landing at the Mile hi Idaho Airstrip located on a mountain ridgetop at an evelvation of 5831'MSL. The Airstrip is 560' in length… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192488. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15825678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_WPR23LA246%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 370 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15825626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo%20WPR23LA246-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.