Wendover Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wendover, Utah 84083
Friday, July 10, 2009 13:25 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the pilot maneuvered the airplane into a flare, its tail wheel touched down on the runway surface. The pilot applied full power in an effort to abort the landing. The resulting torque from the power increase led to the airplane's nose veering to the left. The airplane ground looped to the left leaving the runway surface. The wings both impacted the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate flare during touchdown and failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1325
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Wendover
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84083
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404304N
Event Location Longitude 1140131W
Event Location Airport Wendover Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ENV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4237
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ENV
Elevation of weather observation facility 4237
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
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 Docket Number (internal use) 26100
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 24 2009 6:07PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N202CL
NTSB Number WPR09CA370
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 CHRISTOPHER
Aircraft Model VANS RV-4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4490
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Jul 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 120
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RYAN CHRISTOPHER C
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CLEARFIELD
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84015-6269
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Scott Stewart
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Kaysville
Operator State UT
Operator Country USA
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 --
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 --
Departure City Ogden
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ENV
Destination City Wendover
Destination State UT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 24 2009 6:07PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 08
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --