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WPR11LA371

2011-08-02 · Republic, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport R49

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

On August 2, 2011, at 0845 Pacific daylight time, a Carpenter Kolb Twinstar III, N3135J, veered off the runway during landing at Ferry County Airport, Republic, Washington. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The recreational pilot, who was operating under sport pilot privileges, was not injured. The flight was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had not flown for several years. He had recently received training from a certified flight instructor, and was on his first solo flight since receiving the training. During this flight, the pilot was conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the fourth landing on runway 35, the pilot reported that he tried to settle the tailwheel too soon and with too much speed. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway to the left side, and ground looped. After departing the runway, the airplane impacted a metal obstruction with the left landing gear. The tubular fuselage structure sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he had not flown for several years and had just received training from a certified flight instructor. During his first solo flight since the training, he was conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the fourth landing, the airplane veered off the runway to the left side and ground-looped. After departing the runway, the airplane impacted a metal obstruction with the left landing gear, substantially damaging the tubular fuselage structure. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Effect on equipment
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_WPR11LA371.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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