Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was his improper inflight decision in selecting a less-than-favorable runway on which to land that resulted in a ground loop.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On September 3, 2000, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, an Aviat A-1, N63FE, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at Laramie Regional Airport, Laramie, Wyoming. The private pilot and sole occupant received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Jackson, Wyoming, approximately 0900.
The pilot stated that he was attempting a landing on runway 30 with a left crosswind. Recorded wind was 200 degrees at 14 knots. The pilot said he lost control and the airplane "ground looped and tipped upside down." The airplane came to a rest in the center of the runway.
According to Aviat Aircraft, Inc., the A-1's maximum demonstrated crosswind component is 15 mph (13 knots). Consulting the Crosswind Component Chart, it was determined that the pilot was attempting to land with an almost direct left crosswind (10 degree left quartering tailwind). These circumstances provided a tailwind component of 2 knots and a crosswind component of 13 knots, less than the maximum crosswind component specified by the manufacturer.
In addition to runways 12-30, Laramie Regional Airport has a second, and longer, runway: 03-21. Landing on runway 21 would have presented a 10 degree left crosswind, and would have provided a 13 knot headwind component and a 2 knot crosswind component (see Crosswind Component Chart).
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DEN00LA162