NTSB WPR23LA354 — 2023-04-28 · Ennis, Montana, United States

Current FAA registration · N687HZ

Make / Model: KERR JOHN HATZ CLASSIC
Year of manufacture: 2009 · 14 years old at event
Engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20090422
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A91DFF

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N687HZ KERR JOHN HATZ CLASSIC None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a ground-loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped, experimental amateur-built airplane, reported that during the landing roll he decreased the airplane’s speed to exit the runway, but a ground loop ensued. He did not recall whether he inadvertently applied the heel brakes, or if the airplane encountered a wind gust. The meteorological aerodrome report located at the accident airport about the time of the accident reported that, the wind was out of 130° and the wind velocity was 4 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA354.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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