Joplin Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Joplin, Missouri 64870
Sunday, August 21, 2011 16:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, during the landing, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right of runway centerline. The pilot applied rudder and aileron inputs to counter the unexpected wind. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped and came to rest upright on the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the right wing spar was bent. No airframe or engine anomalies were reported by the pilot. The wind conditions at the airport were light and variable at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Joplin
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64870
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 370906N
Event Location Longitude 0942953W
Event Location Airport Joplin Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JLN
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID JLN
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
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) 30.02
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) 28941
NTSB Notification Source FAA 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 Sep 13 2011 1:51PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N544RS
NTSB Number CEN11CA590
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 RANS DESIGNS INC
Aircraft Model S-7LS
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0907482
Certified Max Gross Weight 1232
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 10 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 496
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name RLS RENTAL CO INC DBA
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City JOPLIN
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 64802-1446
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name ON FILE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Joplin
Operator State MO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 64804
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code JLN
Departure City Joplin
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1529
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code JLN
Destination City Joplin
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2011 1:50PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 6502
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --