Pilot Debrief

Stoddard Hamilton GLASAIR II near Chattanooga, TN — 2019-07-17

Final reportANC19LA036
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Date
2019-07-17
Location
Chattanooga, TN, USA
Aircraft
Stoddard Hamilton GLASAIR II
Registration
C-GAFT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to switch to the secondary electrical system after the primary electrical system failed for unknown reasons.

NTSB narrative

While enroute, during a cross-country flight, the experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a complete failure of the electrical system, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. The pilot subsequently made an off-airport landing in a meadow, however during final approach, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, landed hard, bounced, and nosed over. The airplane was equipped with a backup electrical circuit system which was labeled the essential bus. The pilot reported that during the accident sequence he failed to switch the power supply to the backup power. It is likely that the primary electrical system that the pilot installed failed for unknown reasons, and if he had switched to the secondary electrical system, the airplane would have likely restored electrical power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot forgot to switch to the backup essential bus, which could have prevented the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

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