# NTSB WPR23LA361: Gleim James M MG-1, N126GM, Madera, CA, September 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 28, 2023, 16:07 local (23:07 UTC) - Place: Madera, CA - Coordinates: 36.941333, -119.9908 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9413&lon=-119.9908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 193193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA361 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA361 ## Probable cause An emergency landing on uneven terrain that resulted in the loss of directional control during landing. ## 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: [Gleim James M MG-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05631YP), [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: [Gleim James M MG-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05631YP), [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. - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Gleim James M MG-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05631YP), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Gleim James M MG-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05631YP), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during level flight, the airplane canopy suddenly opened, so he elected to land the airplane on a dirt road ahead. On approach to the dirt road, he encountered power lines and climbed to avoid them, then he continued the emergency approach to the road. When the airplane touched down on the dirt road, it veered aggressively to the left, becoming airborne momentarily, then landing in a ditch and nosing over before coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N126GM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N126GM-2026-03-31), registration cancelled 2026-03-31, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GLEIM JAMES M MG-1 - Registry model: [Gleim James M MG-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/gleim-james-m-mg-1) (registry code 05631YP) (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: 001 - Airframe hours: 90.6 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 7, 2022 - Departed: E79, Fresno, CA - Destination: KMAE, Madera, CA - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 712.2 total, 8.6 in this make and model, 536.5 as pilot in command, 11.9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: KMAE, 6 nm away - METAR: KMAE 282253Z AUTO 31011G17KT 10SM CLR 30/12 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP099 T03000117 ## 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 20230928016259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230928016259A), Sep 28, 2023: Gleim James M MG-1, Madera, CA, Destroyed. On September 28,2023, at approximatly 1607 PDT, the subject experimental amature built aircraft made an emergency landing on a dirt road after the canopy… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193193. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17092562&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N126GM%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 527 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16679077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N126GM%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. --- 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.