G-Dawg JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER N376CG

Summary

On 31 March 2015 at about 18:35 local time, a G-Dawg JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER registered N376CG, operated by G-Dawg LLC, was involved in an accident near Walhalla, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 March 2015 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Walhalla, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Just Aircraft Facility (PVT)

Coordinates

34.7325, -83.0786

Aircraft

G-Dawg JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER

Registration

N376CG

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

G-Dawg LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Walhalla → Walhalla

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA174

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around in gusting tailwind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was demonstrating the experimental, light sport airplane to a potential buyer. The wind was calm when they departed, but gusty when they returned about 30 minutes later. Due to the runway's sloping terrain, all takeoffs were performed in one direction and all landings in the opposite direction. The pilot estimated that a 20-mph tailwind prevailed during final approach, gusting to between 25 and 30 mph. The airplane approached the runway too fast, and the pilot conducted a go-around. He increased the engine power to full, and the airplane began to climb, but as it approached trees at the end of the runway, it encountered a wind gust and stopped climbing. The airplane then impacted a treetop, descended, and impacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation nor did the pilot report any anomalies. The recorded wind about the time of the accident at an airport located 10 miles east of the accident site indicated that a 12-knot tailwind, gusting to 21 knots, existed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.