Double Eagle II Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121
Sunday, April 28, 2013 9:50 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the purpose of the accident flight, which consisted of several practice takeoffs and landings, was to become better acquainted with the flying characteristics of the tailwheel-equipped airplane that he had recently purchased. The accident occurred during a full-stop landing on the hard-surface runway. The pilot reported that he made an uneventful approach and a three-point touchdown on the runway centerline; however, during the landing roll, the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain directional control and that the airplane departed the left side of the runway and nosed over. Postaccident examinations of the airplane, including a functional test of the tailwheel assembly, established that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. In the absence of a mechanical cause for the sudden veer experienced during landing roll, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane after touchdown which resulted in the ground-loop and runway excursion.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/28/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 950
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Albuquerque
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87121
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350843N
Event Location Longitude 1064743W
Event Location Airport Double Eagle II Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAEG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5837
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 950 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KAEG
Elevation of weather observation facility 5837
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KAEG 281450Z VRB06KT 10SM SKC 15/M15 A3016=
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31453
NTSB Notification Source Central Region Duty Officer, J
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2013 10:28AM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4420C
NTSB Number CEN13LA243
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 195B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 16005
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3650
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Ronald S. Harmon
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Albuquerque
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87109
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Ronald S. Harmon
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Albuquerque
Operator State NM
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 87109
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 KAEG
Departure City Albuquerque
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KAEG
Destination City Albuquerque
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2013 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 7398
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --