Amelia Earhart Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atchison, Kansas 66002
Saturday, December 17, 2011 13:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the landing roll, the airplane swerved to the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to regain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane by applying left aileron, right rudder, and wheel brake to no avail. The airplane departed the edge of the runway into an area of soft ground and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate directional control during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/17/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Atchison
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66002
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 393414N
Event Location Longitude 0951049W
Event Location Airport Amelia Earhart Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID K59
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 1070
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) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID STJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 827
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) 30.29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KSTJ 171953Z 18005KT 10SM CLR 08/02 A3029 RM
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) 29638
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 20 2012 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N71911
NTSB Number CEN12CA117
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 LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3338
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1859
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name William Donaldson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LANCASTER
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66041-9138
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name William Donaldson
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LANCASTER
Operator State KS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 66041-9138
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 K34
Departure City Garder
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1250
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code K59
Destination City Atchison
Destination State KS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2012 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record lebt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 48
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --