Glasair SPORTSMAN N117CE

Summary

On 8 August 2011 at about 18:00 local time, a Glasair SPORTSMAN registered N117CE, operated by Glasair Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Pinedale, Wyoming, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 August 2011 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pinedale, Wyoming, United States

Nearest airport

Pinedale (PNA)

Coordinates

42.7917, -109.8147

Aircraft

Glasair SPORTSMAN

Registration

N117CE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Glasair Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pinedale → Pinedale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA389

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was demonstrating landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a mowed grass field, which sloped from left to right. The main wheels touched the ground without incident but, as the tail dropped the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied right brake and full right rudder in an attempt to control the airplane, yet it continued to swerve until it was 90 degrees relative to the direction of travel. The right main landing gear subsequently separated and the right wing and stabilizer contacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damaged to the fuselage, stabilizer, and right aileron. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.