# NTSB WPR23LA268: Vickers-Armstrong Spitfire IX, N633VS, Deer Park, WA, July 7, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 7, 2023, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Deer Park, WA · airport environment - Coordinates: 47.967055, -117.42858 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9671&lon=-117.4286&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): 192586 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192586/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192586 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA268 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind. ## 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: [Vickers-Armstrong SPITFIRE IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056248U), [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: [Vickers-Armstrong SPITFIRE IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056248U), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Vickers-Armstrong SPITFIRE IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056248U), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Vickers-Armstrong SPITFIRE IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056248U), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Vickers-Armstrong SPITFIRE IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056248U), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing roll with a 90° left crosswind at 6 kts, the airplane had a slight drift to the left after touchdown. He attempted corrective inputs by using a combination of right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued drifting to the left and departed the runway. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane collided with the dirt surface, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot initially reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that a gust of wind pushed the tail of the airplane’s tail to the right. The pilot later stated he suspected the right brake had locked during landing, which he said would have reduced the braking effectiveness on the right side. Pictures of skid marks on the runway associated with the right tire show a lighter and narrower skid mark initially parallel to the runway heading, that increased in width and darkness as it turned to the left to where the airplane exited the runway. The right main tire was flat spotted and worn through about ½ the thickness of the sidewall. The airplane was not examined or secured after the accident due to the pilot’s initial assessment that there were no abnormalities or malfunctions with the airplane, and that the airplane had been affected by wind. The evidence is consistent with the pilot’s testimony that he applied right rudder and brake to counter the left turn during landing rollout with a left crosswind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N633VS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N633VS-2024-08-29), registration cancelled 2024-08-29, S/N CBAF IX.571, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VICKERS-ARMSTRONG LTD SPITFIRE IX - Registry model: [Vickers-Armstrong SPITFIRE IX](https://openairdocs.org/model/vickers-armstrong-spitfire-ix) (registry code 056248U) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce MERLIN](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-merlin) (registry code 54502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CBAF IX.571 - Year built: 1945 - Airframe hours: 1387 - Engines: Rolls Royce Packard Merlin 266 1760 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 2023, 1 hours before - Departed: KSFF, Spokane, WA - Destination: KDEW, Deer Park, WA - Airport: DEW, Deer Park, runway 16, 6,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2023; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,400 total, 155 in this make and model, 11,400 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: KDEW - METAR: KDEW 071453Z AUTO 10SM CLR 23/09 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP111 T02280089 52007 ## 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 20230707012819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230707012819A), Jul 7, 2023: Vickers-Armstrong Ltd SPITFIRE IX, Deer Park, WA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed runway 16 at Deer Park, WA (dew). As aircraft landed, a wind gust caused the aircraft to veer to the left. Aircraft rolled off the runway… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192586. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15852395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA268%206120%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email from the duty officer (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16340519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20from%20the%20Duty%20Officer_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16347862&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA268%20Docket%20photos-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.