Willows-Glenn County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willows, California 95988
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 10:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during landing he flared too high, resulting in a bounced landing. During his attempted recovery, the airplane swerved to the right and ground-looped, coming to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s improper flare, resulting in a bounced landing and ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/24/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Willows
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95988
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 393056N
Event Location Longitude 1221302W
Event Location Airport Willows-Glenn County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WLW
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 141
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 959 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID CIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 240
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26842
NTSB Notification Source FAA WP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 22 2010 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N42JH
NTSB Number WPR10CA178
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 HARDIE JAMES D
Aircraft Model KIT FOX XL
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number JCX014
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 Jun 17 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 218
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name STUKEY CARL DONALD JR
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PARADISE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95969-2459
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name STUKEY CARL DONALD JR
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PARADISE
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95969-2459
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 CA92
Departure City Paradise
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code WLW
Destination City Willows
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 22 2010 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 3788
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --