Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI05CA107

Lyndon, KS, USA

Aircraft #1

N74849

Whittman Tailwind

Analysis

The amateur-built experimental airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after an aborted landing on runway 16. The pilot reported that he bounced the airplane during landing and he attempted to abort the landing. When he "throttled up to go around," the left wing "dropped" and the crosswind blew the airplane to the left of the runway. He saw trees and a pond ahead so he shut down the engine. The airplane hit on the landing gear but the airplane flipped over during the landing roll. The pilot reported that he had a total of 407 flight hours and 1.7 hours in make and model. The pilot reported the winds were from 270 degrees. The observed winds at the Philip Billard Municipal Airport (TOP), Topeka, Kansas, about 30 nautical miles north of 39K, were 290 degrees at 8 knots.

Factual Information

On April 27, 2005, at 1730 central daylight time, an amateur-built experimental Whittman Tailwind, N74849, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after an aborted landing on runway 16 (2,160 feet by 60 feet, turf/grass) at the Pomona Lake Airport (39K), Lyndon, Kansas. The private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed 39K at 1700 on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he bounced the airplane during landing and he attempted to abort the landing. He reported that he "throttled up to go around" but the left wing "dropped" and the crosswind blew the airplane to the left of the runway. He reported that he saw trees and a pond ahead so he shut down the engine. He reported the airplane hit on the landing gear but the airplane flipped over. The pilot reported that he had a total of 407 flight hours and 1.7 hours in make and model. The pilot reported the winds were from 270 degrees. The observed winds at the Philip Billard Municipal Airport (TOP), Topeka, Kansas, about 30 nautical miles north of 39K, were 290 degrees at 8 knots.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his inadequate compensation for a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent collision with the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's selection of a wrong runway, the tailwind, trees, and the pond.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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