Kerr John HATZ CLASSIC N687HZ

Summary

On 29 April 2023 at about 00:00 local time, a Kerr John HATZ CLASSIC registered N687HZ was involved in an accident near Ennis, Montana, 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

29 April 2023 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ennis, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Ennis Big Sky (EKS)

Coordinates

45.2757, -111.6489

Aircraft

Kerr John HATZ CLASSIC

Registration

N687HZ

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blackfoot → Ennis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA354

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a ground-loop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped, experimental amateur-built airplane, reported that during the landing roll he decreased the airplane’s speed to exit the runway, but a ground loop ensued. He did not recall whether he inadvertently applied the heel brakes, or if the airplane encountered a wind gust. The meteorological aerodrome report located at the accident airport about the time of the accident reported that, the wind was out of 130° and the wind velocity was 4 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.