Roberts Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Emporia, Kansas 66801
Saturday, March 31, 2012 13:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was landing on runway 18 when the airplane started to yaw to the right. Rudder correction was not sufficient to stop the yaw, and the brakes did not seem to help. The runway consisted of about 8-inch-tall grass at the time. The pilot was ultimately unable to maintain directional control and the airplane rotated about 180 degrees before impacting a fence located about 30 feet from the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aft fuselage. Wind near the accident site was from 210 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of directional control while landing, which resulted in a ground loop and impact with a fence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/31/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Emporia
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66801
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 382523N
Event Location Longitude 0962219W
Event Location Airport Roberts Memorial
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SN04
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1185
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 123
Weather Observation Facility ID EMP
Elevation of weather observation facility 1208
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.81
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) 29794
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ACE ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 16 2012 4:01PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3673T
NTSB Number CEN12CA219
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 TAYLORCRAFT AVIATION CORP
Aircraft Model F19
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number F-081
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 6 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1430
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Charles L Dunn
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Emporia
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66801
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Charles L Dunn
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Emporia
Operator State KS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 66801
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 SN04
Departure City Emporia
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SN04
Destination City Emporia
Destination State KS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2012 11:05AM
User who most recently changed record sort
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --