Houma-Terrebonne Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Houma, Louisiana 70363
Tuesady, December 29, 2009 13:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the landing rollout the pilot was unable to arrest a swerve to the right and the tailwheel-equipped airplane subsequently ground-looped. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed that the wing spar sustained structural damage. No mechanical malfunction was identified with the airplane's flight control system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/29/2009
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Houma
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70363
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 293359N
Event Location Longitude 0903937W
Event Location Airport Houma-Terrebonne
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HUM
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID MSY
Elevation of weather observation facility 4
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
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) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KMSY 291953Z 05005KT 10SM FEW090 BKN250 11/M
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) 26539
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 13 2010 2:50PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N17325
NTSB Number CEN10CA086
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 HOOVER FRANK
Aircraft Model RV-8
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 80019
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Mar 15 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 548
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name HOOVER FRANK W
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1320 SALEM ST
Aircraft Owner City MEMPHIS
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38122-1343
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name HOOVER FRANK W
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1320 SALEM ST
Operator City MEMPHIS
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 38122-1343
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 Destin
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HUM
Destination City Houma
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 12 2010 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record lebt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 6508
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --