# NTSB WPR24LA292: Ronald J Mclaughlin Bearhawk Patrol, N924LB, Shearer, ID, August 28, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 28, 2024, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Shearer, ID - Coordinates: 45.9895, -114.84127 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9895&lon=-114.8413&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 195048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA292 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195048/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195048 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA292 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. ## 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: [Ronald J Mclaughlin BEARHAWK PATROL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05635MI), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Ronald J Mclaughlin BEARHAWK PATROL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=05635MI), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/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: [Ronald J Mclaughlin BEARHAWK PATROL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05635MI), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Ronald J Mclaughlin BEARHAWK PATROL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05635MI), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was attempting to land at an airstrip within a canyon. The pilot overflew the runway twice; he first observed a right crosswind followed by a “limp” windsock during his second pass. The pilot then maneuvered through the canyon to land, encountering turbulence as he approached the runway. During the landing rollout, the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway despite the pilot’s rudder input. The right main landing gear hit a depression in the ground, the airplane then ground looped, and its left wingtip impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing. After the pilot exited the airplane, he noted there to be a “strong, direct tailwind” present. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N924LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N924LB), registered now, S/N RJM-4 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RONALD J MCLAUGHLIN BEARHAWK PATROL - Registry model: [Ronald J Mclaughlin BEARHAWK PATROL](https://openairdocs.org/model/ronald-j-mclaughlin-bearhawk-patrol) (registry code 05635MI) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: RJM-4 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: Titan IOX-360 189 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 20, 2024 - Departed: SMN, Salmon, ID - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 2U5, Shearer USFS Airport, runway 18, 2,000 × 15 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KHRF, 34 nm away - METAR: KHRF 282115Z AUTO 32013G20KT 10SM FEW070 17/01 A3016 RMK AO2 ## 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 20240828011659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240828011659A), Aug 28, 2024: Ronald J Mclaughlin BEARHAWK PATROL, Grangeville, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot landed aircraft successfully, during rollout and at less than 20 knots a gust of wind combined with mechanical turbulance, the aircraft weathervaned.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195048. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17703817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17703094&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MoR-%20Pilot%20Owner-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17703393&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Airport facility directory, 2U5 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17714438&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ITD%20AFD-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.