Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB WPR15LA233
RYAN AERONAUTICAL ST3KR — Hollister, CA
| Date | August 6, 2015 |
| Location | Hollister, CA |
| Aircraft | RYAN AERONAUTICAL ST3KR |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Landing-landing roll Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 75 |
| Pilot total time | 2,186 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | 220 hrs |
| Fatalities | 0, 1 serious |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring communications-Airport personnel - F
- Environmental issues-Task environment-Physical workspace-Visibility-Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Airport personnel
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Awareness of condition
What happened
Following an uneventful flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot entered the airport traffic pattern for the nontowered airport, which featured a single turf runway. The pilot announced his position on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). The pilot continued to turn onto the base leg and then onto final, announced his position on each segment, and landed in a 3-point attitude. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a stationary, occupied lawnmower and a truck on the right side of the runway. The pilot further reported that he did not see the lawnmower while he was in the traffic pattern or during the landing sequence. The driver of the truck, who was talking to the person operating the lawnmower, reported that they were located on the right side of the runway, just beyond a turnoff to the taxiway, and were discussing an issue with the mower. The driver further reported that the lawnmower operator did have a headset connected to an aircraft transceiver; however, he was not wearing it during the conversation.
It is likely that the nose-high attitude of the tailwheel-equipped airplane and the pilot's position in the rear seat reduced the pilot's forward visibility during the landing and subsequent landing roll precluded his ability to see objects directly in front of the airplane. However, the pilot would have had adequate visibility to inspect the runway for obstructions while operating in the traffic pattern. In addition, if the lawnmower operator had been using the transceiver to monitor the CTAF, it is likely that he would have heard the approaching airplane and repositioned the lawnmower off the runway before the airplane landed.