# NTSB WPR25LA022: Seifert Dale E Highlander, N716DW, Elko, NV, October 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 20, 2024, 16:22 local (23:22 UTC) - Place: Elko, NV - Coordinates: 40, -115 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0000&lon=-115.0000&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): 195359 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195359/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195359 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain direction control during a go-around, 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: [Seifert Dale E HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0561929), [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: [Seifert Dale E HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0561929), [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: [Seifert Dale E HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0561929), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he applied right aileron and rudder control inputs to control for a left drift during his approach to the runway. As he rotated the airplane into a three-point attitude prior to touchdown he noticed the airplane had a high rate of descent. The pilot added throttle and pulled back on the flight control stick; however, this did not arrest the descent rate. He subsequently advanced the throttle to full power for a go-around, but the airplane firmly touched down on the runway surface. The pilot struggled to enter a climb, which he attributed to having 40° of extended flaps at the time. When the airplane did begin to climb the pilot noticed that it had turned to the left and his right wing was in the air. He immediately reduced engine power and moved the flight control stick to the left to avoid a collision with a group of hangars. The airplane then ground looped to the left and side loaded the right main landing gear. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N716DW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N716DW), registered now, S/N JAESC0043, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SEIFERT DALE E HIGHLANDER - Registry model: [Seifert Dale E HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/seifert-dale-e-highlander) (registry code 0561929) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JAESC0043 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 247.2 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 8, 2024 - Departed: U76, Mountain Home, ID - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EKO, Elko Rgnl, runway 12/30, 3,015 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review July 4, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 499 total, 37 in this make and model, 439 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KELY, 43 nm away - METAR: KELY 202253Z AUTO 25009KT 10SM CLR 18/M06 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP185 T01831061 $ ## 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 20241020017309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241020017309A), Oct 20, 2024: Seifert Dale E HIGHLANDER, Elko, NV, Substantial damage. The accident aircraft was attempting a landing at keko on runway 12 due to the wind being reported as 180 degrees at 5 KTS with no gusts. As the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195359. 2.6 MB in all. - Accident photographs (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17863166&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17863279&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N716DW%20-%206120.1%20Form_Redacted-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.