ERVIN REX H BEAR HAWK
Merrill, OR — June 21, 2015
Event Information
| Date | June 21, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA15CA132 |
| Event ID | 20150623X50951 |
| Location | Merrill, OR |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 42.02889, -121.59834 |
| Airport | Ervin Private Airstrip |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | ERVIN REX H |
| Model | BEAR HAWK |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot, while on approach to a private grass air strip he observed the midfield wind sock indicating light and variable winds. After a normal approach and touch down, during the landing roll he encountered a strong crosswind from the right. Subsequently, the airplane began to swerve and then entered a ground loop to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing impacted the runway and the airplane came to rest. The pilot reported that after he exited the airplane, he observed a quartering tailwind at 15 miles per hour.
The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The right wing and elevator were substantially damaged in the accident. The reported winds at an airport 5 nautical miles away about the time of the accident were from a variable direction at 3 knots.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.