Lehigh Valley International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103
Friday, April 4, 2003 18:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing on runway 6, a 7,600 foot long, 150 foot wide, asphalt runway. He said there was a crosswind from 100 degrees at 20 to 25 knots. After touchdown, a gust of wind caught the right wing and the tail wheeled airplane ground looped, which resulted in damage to the left lower wing. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties with the airplane. Winds reported at the airport about 10 minutes before the accident were from 110 degrees at 12 knots

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing which resulted in a ground loop. A factor in the accident was the crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/4/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Allentown
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18103
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 403905N
Event Location Longitude 0752615W
Event Location Airport Lehigh Valley International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ABE
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 394
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1751 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ABE
Elevation of weather observation facility 394
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16767
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern Region Comm Ctr
NTSB Notification Date Apr 4 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1816
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2004 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Allentown

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15244
NTSB Number NYC03LA077
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 Waco
Aircraft Model YOC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4327
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 30 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Nancy G. Jaeger
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1133 S 24th Street
Aircraft Owner City Allentown
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18103
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 SBY
Departure City Salisbury
Departure State MD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ABE
Destination City Allentown
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 12 2004 1:54PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 7600
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --