Whiteman Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Angeles, California 91331
Thursday, April 16, 2009 13:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during landing on Runway 30, the airplane bounced and touched down a second time in a three-point landing. During the landing roll, the airplane began to weathervane to the left. The pilot added right rudder and left aileron, and the airplane abruptly turned to the right and departed the runway. The airplane began skidding in the dirt, the left main landing gear failed, and the left wing tip impacted the ground. The winds were from 230 degrees at 10 knots at the time of the accident, giving a calculated left crosswind component of 9 knots for the landing. Examination of the airplane found no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have contributed to a loss of directional control.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswinds and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Los Angeles
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91331
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341534N
Event Location Longitude 1182448W
Event Location Airport Whiteman Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WHP
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 1003
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1247 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID WHP
Elevation of weather observation facility 1003
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25743
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 18 2009 10:16AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9219E
NTSB Number WPR09LA204
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 MAULE
Aircraft Model M-5-235C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7140C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Aug 30 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 1315
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name LAWSON JOHN R
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GLENDALE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91207-1722
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name LAWSON JOHN R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GLENDALE
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 91207-1722
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SZP
Departure City Santa Paula
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code WHP
Destination City Los Angeles
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 21 2009 6:25PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 4120
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --