Pilot Debrief

AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1A near Marfa, TX — 2009-06-12

Final reportCEN09CA352
Sign in to save
Date
2009-06-12
Location
Marfa, TX, USA
Aircraft
AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1A
Registration
N391C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing in gusty winds.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was using his single-engine airplane to conduct an aerial survey of his ranch when he noted a trough that was overflowing. He elected to land at the nearby 1,100-foot-long dirt airstrip so that he could fix the water problem. During landing, the pilot encountered a gust of wind and the airplane bounced, traveling beyond the point where an aborted landing could be safely achieved due to a row of power lines. The pilot first applied brakes, which caused the tail to rise, but not enough to slow the airplane down to a full stop. He then applied full brakes, subsequently flipping the airplane over and resulting in damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

Related mishaps