Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gainesville, Georgia 30501
Monday, April 14, 2003 13:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and passenger departed for a sightseeing/pleasure flight over Lake Lanier, with intentions to stop in Gainesville for refreshments. According to the pilot, he checked the prevailing wind information for the approach at the airport. The prevailing winds were reported at 140 degree at six knots; the pilot chose runway 11 for the approach and landing. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. No mechanical or flight control problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in an inadvertent ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Gainesville
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30501
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 341613N
Event Location Longitude 0834922W
Event Location Airport LEE GILMER MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GVL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1275
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1275
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.31
Density Altitude (feet) 2282
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) 19814
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2006 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4908N
NTSB Number ATL03LA079
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 Boeing Stearman
Aircraft Model A75L3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number A75l3
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 3978
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jeff Clark
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2781 Carolin Drive
Aircraft Owner City Syrmna
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30080
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 PDK
Departure City ATLANTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 3 2003 8:45AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 4001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --