Bryce Canyon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bryce Canyon, Utah 84717
Wednesday, June 27, 2001 10:47 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the pilot approached the airport, he monitored the ASOS frequency and learned the winds were from 120 degrees at 12 knots. The airport had only one asphalt runway, 03-21. These conditions presented a direct 90 degree crosswind. The pilot made a touch and go landing on runway 03, turned around, and landed on runway 21. During the landing roll, the airplane swerved to the left, due to a "possible gust of wind or [the] pilot was too slow in rudder correction." He then applied "hard right rudder," and the airplane responded with a "rapid turn to the right" that he was unable to counter. The left wing struck the runway, causing main spar damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/27/2001
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1047
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Bryce Canyon
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84717
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Bryce Canyon
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BCE
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 7586
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BCE
Elevation of weather observation facility 7586
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.41
Density Altitude (feet) 8934
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10873
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Jul 16 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 1 2001 7:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Salt Lake City, Utah

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N872CC
NTSB Number DEN01LA123
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 9929CC
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 15 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 27
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Scott J. Kaats
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Encinitas
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92024
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 RIF
Departure City Richfield
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1010
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BCE
Destination City Bryce Canyon
Destination State UT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 10 2001 11:19AM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 7400
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --