Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW99LA106

KINGSTON, OK, USA

Aircraft #1

N227FG

Starduster SA-100

Analysis

The pilot lost control of the airplane during the landing roll. During the landing roll a gust of wind lifted the right wing and empennage into the air and, consequently, the nose dragged along the runway surface approximately 30 feet. The airplane exited the departure end of the runway, flipped over and came to rest in the inverted position. Thirty minutes after the accident occurred a weather observation facility, located 25 miles northwest of the accident site, reported that the winds were from 230 degrees at 25 knots, gusting to 30 knots.

Factual Information

On April 5, 1999, at 1020 central daylight time, a Starduster SA-100 experimental, tailwheel equipped airplane, N227FG, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing at the Lake Texoma State Park Airport, near Kingston, Oklahoma. The non-instrument rated private pilot, who was the owner and operator, and the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from Kingston, Oklahoma, at 0945. The pilot reported that he maneuvered the single-place airplane to land on runway 36. Soon after touching down, the homebuilt airplane encountered "a gust of wind from the east." The right wing and empennage lifted into the air and, consequently, the nose of the airplane dragged along the runway surface approximately 30 feet. Subsequently, the airplane exited the departure end of the runway, flipped over and came to rest in the inverted position. At 1050, a weather observation facility located 25 miles northwest of the accident site reported that the winds were from 230 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The pilot had accumulated a total of 1,700 flight hours at the time of the accident, of which 1,600 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the rudder was folded over the vertical stabilizer and the right wing spar was damaged. One propeller blade was separated at the propeller hub and the second propeller blade remained attached to the propeller and was "scuffed" at the tip.

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll. A factor was the gusty wind conditions.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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