Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W 8 N1983T

Summary

On 25 January 2016 at about 03:30 local time, a Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W 8 registered N1983T, operated by Earhart, Robert E, was involved in an accident near Big Bear, California, United States. One person was 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

25 January 2016 at 03:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Bear, California, United States

Nearest airport

Big Bear City (L35)

Coordinates

34.2639, -116.8561

Aircraft

Glines Kenneth TAILWIND W 8

Registration

N1983T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1983

Engines

1

Operator

Earhart, Robert E

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Saint Johns → Big Bear

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

GAA16CA121

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadvertent landing off the left side of the snow-covered runway, resulting in a ground loop and nose over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, during his approach at a non-towered airport at night, he made the descent to what he thought was the runway, but realized  that it was actually the taxiway, and "slipped" right, to what he then perceived to be the runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane ground looped and nosed over. The pilot had landed and nosed over in the safety area to the left of the runway. The pilot reported that he had been flying for the preceding 12 hour period, and conceded to having exceeded his personal endurance limitations. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.