N516VB

Substantial
None

DAYTON A BABCOCK STORMS/N: TTS61

Accident Details

Date
Friday, January 2, 2015
NTSB Number
ERA15CA118
Location
Eustis, FL
Event ID
20150204X84810
Coordinates
28.843334, -81.629997
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate spacing from the preceding aircraft during a formation landing, resulting in an inadvertent "prop wash" encounter, loss of control, and impact with terrain.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
DAYTON A BABCOCK
Serial Number
TTS61
Engine Type
4-cycle
Model / ICAO
STORMFK9
Aircraft Type
Weight Shift Control
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
STORM

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
CURRY BRIAN W
Address
4405 EDGEWOOD DR
City
FRUITLAND PARK
State / Zip Code
FL 34731-5655
Country
United States

Analysis

At the conclusion of a local formation flight, the flight of weight-shift-control aircraft returned to their home airport and entered the traffic pattern. During the landing flare, the accident pilot encountered the "prop wash" of the preceding aircraft, which resulted in his aircraft entering an uncommanded right bank. The pilot attempted to counteract the turn by applying a left banking control input, but the left main landing gear and nose landing gear impacted the ground, and further aggravated the turn. The nose landing gear then collapsed and dug into the soft turf runway, and the aircraft overturned to the right, where it came to rest on its right side. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airframe had been substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures or the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation, and when asked how the accident might have been prevented, the pilot stated, "…I could have performed (possibly) a go-around."

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA15CA118