# NTSB WPR23LA259: Aviat A-1B, N307F, Las Vegas, NV, June 24, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 24, 2023, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV · Lean Dry Lake Beds - Coordinates: 35.78735, -115.26124 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7874&lon=-115.2612&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192574/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192574 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA259 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unsafe inflight operation of the airplane and failure to maintain clearance from a person on the ground, which resulted in a serious injury. ## 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: [Aviat A-1B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/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: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he intended to land on a dry lakebed behind a model that was being photographed and create a ‘wall of dust’ using the airplane for a photograph. During the landing roll, the pilot stated he was moving too fast to stop before reaching the model and elected to execute a go-around. He then returned to the lakebed and landed, where he saw that the model had been seriously injured. According to the photographer, he and his model had been approached by the pilot, who offered his airplane as a backdrop for the photo shoot. After taking several photographs near the airplane, the pilot offered to overfly the model for additional photographs. The pilot flew over the model twice, and on the third flyover, the airplane was lower than the previous passes and the airplane’s left wing struck the model in the back of the head. Following the accident, the photographer obtained images from other photographers of the pilot performing similar maneuvers over other models at low altitude. Title 14 of the Combined Federal Regulations, § 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes: General, states: “Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes: (c) An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.” The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N307F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N307F), registered now, S/N 2379 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1B - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1p) (registry code 42259, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2379 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 417 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2023, 20 hours before - Departed: KVGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 26, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 600 total, 250 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KHND, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KHND 241456Z 26005KT 10SM CLR 24/M08 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP155 T02391078 51015 ## 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 20230624010079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230624010079A), Jun 24, 2023: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Jean, NV, Minor damage. On 06/24/2023 at approximately 0800PDT, Aviat A-1B airplane struck and severely injured a person located on a dry lake bed north of Jean, Nevada. The pilot of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192574. 13.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15832397&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1-%20Goodwater_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 5 photos, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16269522&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA259%20witness%20statement%20with%20pic_redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 694 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16269787&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA259%20Photo%20array-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.