Sky A-1C-180 N52LK

Summary

On 20 July 2011 at about 16:00 local time, a Sky A-1C-180 registered N52LK, operated by Laurence D. Ketner, was involved in an accident near Fryeburg, Maine, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 July 2011 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fryeburg, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Eastern Slopes Regional Airpor (IZG)

Coordinates

43.9911, -70.9478

Aircraft

Sky A-1C-180

Registration

N52LK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Laurence D. Ketner

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Auburn → Fryeburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA410

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty wind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he received a preflight weather briefing about 1 1/2 hours before departure, and the wind at his destination was reported to be calm or from the south at 8 to 10 knots. He departed and proceeded to his destination, where he reported that the windsock at the airport indicated a variable crosswind. He performed an approach to runway 14 and sensed a tailwind component, so he performed a go-around. He remained in the traffic pattern and selected runway 32. During the touchdown, the left wing raised and the airplane began to ground loop. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and came to rest upright, sustaining substantial damage to the propeller, right landing gear, and right wing. The reported wind 54 minutes after the accident was variable from 190 to 250 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 16 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.