Laramie Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Laramie, Wyoming 82070
Sunday, September 3, 2000 12:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was attempting to land on runway 30. Recorded wind was 200 degrees at 14 knots. Directional control was lost and the airplane 'ground looped and tipped upside down.' According to Aviat Aircraft, Inc., the A-1's maximum demonstrated crosswind component is 15 mph (13 knots). Consulting the Crosswind Component Chart, it was determined that the pilot was confronted with an almost direct left crosswind (10 degree left quartering tailwind). Under these circumstances, there was a tailwind component of 2 knots and a crosswind component of 13 knots, less than the maximum crosswind component specified by the manufacturer. In addition to runways 12-30, the airport has a second, and longer, runway: 03-21. Landing on runway 21 would have presented a 10 degree left crosswind, and would have provided a 13 knot headwind component and a 2 knot crosswind component.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was his improper inflight decision in selecting a less-than-favorable runway on which to land that resulted in a ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City LARAMIE
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82070
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport LARAMIE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LAR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 7278
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1152 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 7278
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9651
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 304
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Sep 3 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1415
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N63FE
NTSB Number DEN00LA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aviat
Aircraft Model A-1
Aircraft Series Identifier A-1
Aircraft Serial Number 1225
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 13 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 480
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD H. SKJERVEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 19390 BAINTER AVE.
Aircraft Owner City LOS GATOS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95030
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JAC
Departure City JACKSON
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LAR
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 6300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --