# NTSB WPR24LA301: Thompson Ryan L Thompson Craft, N954RD, Port Angeles, WA, September 1, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 1, 2024, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Port Angeles, WA · on airport - Coordinates: 48.120194, -123.49969 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1202&lon=-123.4997&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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 195090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195090/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195090 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA301 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Ryan L THOMPSON CRAFT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05629EA), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Ryan L THOMPSON CRAFT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05629EA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Thompson Ryan L THOMPSON CRAFT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=05629EA), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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: [Thompson Ryan L THOMPSON CRAFT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05629EA), [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, the airplane bounced and when the airplane touched back down, the tail moved to the left. He applied left rudder to correct the movement, however, the airplane ground looped to the right, nosed over and came to rest inverted. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N954RD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N954RD), registered now, S/N 2009, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THOMPSON RYAN L THOMPSON CRAFT - Registry model: [Thompson Ryan L THOMPSON CRAFT](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-ryan-l-thompson-craft) (registry code 05629EA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-a) (registry code 17191, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2009 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 200 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special); Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 3, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CLM, William R Fairchild International, runway 27, 6,347 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 19, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 703 total, 8 in this make and model, 703 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KCLM - METAR: KCLM 011853Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP132 T02440144 ## 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 20240901013019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240901013019A), Sep 1, 2024: Thompson Ryan L THOMPSON CRAFT, Port Angeles, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot ground looped aircraft upon landing on runway 27. The pilot stated that there was a light crosswind at the airport, so he decided to practice… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195090. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18334457&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20from%20pilot%202.13.25_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18244444&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20WPR24LA301-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.