Tuesday, August 07, 2018

Loss of Control in Flight: Challenger II, N1666R; accident occurred July 23, 2018 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH), Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket  - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N1666R

Location: Oshkosh, WI
Accident Number: CEN18CA291
Date & Time: 07/23/2018, 0950 CDT
Registration: N1666R
Aircraft: Quad City CHALLENGER
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The airplane was landing on the ultralight field when the accident occurred. The pilot stated that she made a wide base to final turn because she was unsure about the placement of the runway. Although the pilot added power, the airplane entered a left descending turn until the left wing contacted the ground near the beginning of the runway's displaced threshold. The airplane then spun left and slid rearward on the ground until it contacted a chain-link fence.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's statement, along with a ground-based video of the accident, revealed that the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed and exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack during the base to final turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the base to final turn and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Findings

Aircraft
Performance/control parameters - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Fence/fence post - Contributed to outcome

Factual Information

History of Flight

Approach-VFR pattern final
Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Uncontrolled descent
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Private
Age: 50, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Sport Pilot
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/27/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/11/2016
Flight Time:  874 hours (Total, all aircraft), 299 hours (Total, this make and model), 798 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 18 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Quad City
Registration: N1666R
Model/Series: CHALLENGER II
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2008
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: CH2-0899-1897
Landing Gear Type:
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/15/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:
Airframe Total Time: 348 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: 
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: Holtz Rodney R
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KOSH, 782 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0953 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 9°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 5000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR): 
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 350°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 17°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: 
Departure Point: Wautoma, WI (Y50)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Oshkosh, WI (OSH)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0915 CDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Wittman Rgnl (OSH)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 808 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 33
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 1200 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 43.966944, -88.560833

Location: Oshkosh, WI
Accident Number: CEN18CA291
Date & Time: 07/23/2018, 0950 CDT
Registration: N1666R
Aircraft: Quad City CHALLENGER
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

The pilot reported that she made a wide turn from base leg to final approach because she did not know exactly where the runway was placed. She stated she banked the airplane to line up with the runway and was still in a bank when the airplane approached the runway threshold. She added power to keep from getting too low, but the airplane contacted the ground and spun around, coming to a stop up against a chain-link fence.

The left wing, rudder, and elevator sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The experimental amateur built airplane was landing on ultralight runway 33 during Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture when the accident occurred. The EAA AirVenture Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) contained a diagram showing the approach route for airplanes landing on runway 33. The procedure is to follow the northbound road at the east end of Ripple Road then make an approximate 30° left turn near the runway threshold to align with the runway. The west side of the northbound road is bordered by trees. The accident airplane contacted the ground near the beginning of the displaced threshold for the runway.

The accident was captured on a ground-based video which showed the airplane in a left descending turn as it approached the runway. The airplane continued in the left turn until the left wing contacted the ground. The left main gear and nose gear then contacted the ground followed shortly thereafter by the right main gear. The airplane then slid rearward and spun to the left coming to rest after the tail contacted the fence. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 45°. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Private
Age: 50, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Sport Pilot
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/27/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/11/2016
Flight Time:  874 hours (Total, all aircraft), 299 hours (Total, this make and model), 798 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 18 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Quad City
Registration: N1666R
Model/Series: CHALLENGER II
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2008
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: CH2-0899-1897
Landing Gear Type:
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  07/15/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:
Airframe Total Time:  348 Hours
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: Holtz Rodney R
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KOSH, 782 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0953 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 9°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 5000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 350°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 17°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Wautoma, WI (Y50)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Oshkosh, WI (OSH)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0915 CDT
Type of Airspace: 

Airport Information

Airport: Wittman Rgnl (OSH)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 808 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 33
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 1200 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  43.966944, -88.560833

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