Pilot Debrief

SHAFFER WILLIAM C QUICKSILVER MX II SP near Visalia, CA — 2010-06-01

Final reportWPR10LA271
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Date
2010-06-01
Location
Visalia, CA, USA
Aircraft
SHAFFER WILLIAM C QUICKSILVER MX II SP
Registration
N4399J
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions and failure to maintain runway alignment while landing.

NTSB narrative

A witness observed the airplane in a field moving back and forth across a make shift dirt landing strip. He then observed the airplane take off and fly in a “circling maneuver” for approximately one hour. The witness stated that the airplane was flying eastbound over the makeshift landing strip and he watched as it attempted to land in windy conditions. He observed the airplane blown by the wind slightly to the south of the landing strip and crash, flipping over an unknown number of times. A police officer noted that this may have been the pilot’s first actual flight in this airplane and that at the time of the accident there was “a variable wind in the area that did pick up.” Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane landed on a soft/rough surface off the runway which resulted in the collapse of the right main gear. Further damage to the airplane occurred when the pusher propeller cut through a tail support tube of the airplane. The pilot did not hold any pilot or medical certificate.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to abort landing due to windy conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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