Amateur-built SA300 accident near Georgetown, Kentucky, October 8, 2023
On October 8, 2023 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 2014 amateur-built SA300, registered N27MW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Georgetown, Kentucky (Georgetown-Scott County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll in gusting a gusting crosswind, resulting in a runway excursion and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2023 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Kentucky · Georgetown-Scott County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA300, built 2014
- Registration
- N27MW · registry record · serial M001W
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was returning to his home airport after a local flight and the reported wind was from 300° at 9 knots with gusts to 13 knots. He performed a low approach to runway 3 with a direct crosswind. He remained in the traffic pattern for another approach to runway 3. After an uneventful touchdown and initial rollout, with the throttle at idle, the airplane began to veer to the left. He countered with right rudder and was able to maintain his track throughout most of the landing roll. Near the end of the rollout, while still on the paved surface, the airplane veered left more abruptly, and the right wingtip touched the runway. The airplane then departed the runway to the left and nosed over into the grass. The pilot egressed the airplane without injury. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the upper wing, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 325 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 270 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 10, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 194 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 5, 2023; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 (piston); 1,104 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,498 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from K27K
Weather report (METAR): K27K 082055Z AUTO 26010G17KT 10SM BKN055 BKN070 OVC085 13/01 A2993 RMK AO1
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Written Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Record of Telephone Call - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.