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Atlas / NTSB / WPR11CA323

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR11CA323

2011-07-07 Soda Springs, Idaho, United States Airport · U78 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N545N

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

TL ULTRALIGHT SRO STINGSPORT

Year of manufacture

2005 · 6 years old at event

Engine

BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20051229

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A6EBAB

Registrant of record

KERSEY LARRY M

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper landing flare and failure to maintain directional control during the landing.

Factual narrative

During his cross country flight, the student pilot diverted to an unfamiliar airport due to deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot was attempting to land and elected to touch down long because of the presence of a road near the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that he flared too aggressively and the airplane bounced after touching down and yawed to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to try and correct the airplanes yaw and the nose gear collapsed when the airplane touched down the second time. Subsequently the airplane slid off the runway to the right. A post accident inspection of the elevator showed that it had been substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal flight. During a cross country flight, the student pilot diverted to an unfamiliar airport due to deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot elected to touch down long because of the presence of a road near the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that he flared too aggressively and the airplane bounced, and yawed to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to try and correct the airplane's yaw, and the nose gear collapsed when the airplane touched down the second time. Subsequently, the airplane slid off the runway to the right, and the elevator was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal flight. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Student pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_WPR11CA323.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.