Pilot Debrief

MAURER ELMO A V STAR SA900 near Erwinna, PA — 2017-11-03

Final reportERA18LA019
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Date
2017-11-03
Location
Erwinna, PA, USA
Airport
9N1
Aircraft
MAURER ELMO A V STAR SA900
Registration
N21EM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing.

NTSB narrative

The sport pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. A witness reported that he saw the airplane depart and then return about 30 minutes later. During the landing, the airplane "cartwheeled," which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that he did could not remember the landing. The pilot added that a postaccident check of the flight controls revealed that they were functioning normally. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot lost airplane control during landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing when losing control during approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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