Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB WPR11LA096
RYAN AERONAUTICAL ST3KR — Warner Springs, CA
| Date | January 11, 2011 |
| Location | Warner Springs, CA |
| Aircraft | RYAN AERONAUTICAL ST3KR |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Night · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Landing Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 87 |
| Pilot total time | 7,000 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1, 1 serious |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wind sock pole during landing.
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Pole-Response/compensation - C
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot - C
What happened
The pilot and passenger were conducting a local flight when it became dark and they decided to divert to a nearby airport. As they approached the unlit airport, the left wing impacted the airport wind sock pole, located to the left of the approach end of the runway. Following the impact, the airplane collided with the ground. The accident occurred 2 minutes after the end of civil twilight.