# NTSB WPR23LA292: John Espe Cruiser, N314E, Buhl, ID, July 29, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 29, 2023, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Buhl, ID
- Coordinates: 42.597389, -114.80063 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5974&lon=-114.8006&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): 192759
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA292
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192759/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192759
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA292

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing with a gusting tail wind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [John Espe CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05639YB), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: [John Espe CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05639YB), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [John Espe CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05639YB), [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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [John Espe CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05639YB), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [John Espe CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05639YB), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing, he encountered a gusting tail wind. While attempting to control the speed to prevent stall, the airplane veered to the left of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder in an attempt to correct this, resulting in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N314E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N314E), registered now, S/N 12001, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JOHN ESPE CRUISER
- Registry model: [John Espe CRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/john-espe-cruiser) (registry code 05639YB) (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: 12001
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 125
- Engines: Titan O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 2023, 110 hours before
- Departed: U87, Smiley Creek, ID
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: U03, Buhl Muni, runway 09, 3,600 × 75 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,487 total, 70 in this make and model, 2,487 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KTWF, 16 nm away
- METAR: KTWF 291653Z 08004KT 10SM CLR 27/10 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP149 T02670100

## 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 20230729009619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230729009619A), Jul 29, 2023: John Espe CRUISER, Buhl, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing at U03 airport on runway 09 with a slight tail wind. Aircraft's left main tire touched down approximately 5 feet into the dirt on the left…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192759. 5.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16268587&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA292%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16009945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA292%20Docket%20photo-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.

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