Pilot Debrief

SKEETER 1M near Oklahoma City, OK — 2012-03-03

Final reportCEN12LA179
Sign in to save
Date
2012-03-03
Location
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Airport
RCE
Aircraft
SKEETER 1M
Registration
N1111V
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while on final approach as he was executing a turn to provide spacing between his airplane and an airplane on the runway.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was flying his experimental home-built airplane on a cross-country flight when the canopy came loose, so he diverted to another airport to tighten the canopy. His airplane was on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern and another airplane was on final approach. Several witnesses said that when the accident airplane was on final approach in the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to make a 180-degree turn. The pilot likely saw the other airplane on the runway, and, not knowing its intention, he attempted to add more space between his airplane and the other airplane. The accident airplane was observed about 400 feet above the ground in a 45-degree banked turn. The accident airplane subsequently descended and impacted terrain. The accident pilot did not have a current medical certificate. No preimpact anomalies were detected during a postaccident examination of the wreckage.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to maintain altitude instead of banking to avoid another aircraft.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

Related mishaps