Amateur-built Falconar F-11 accident near Creswell, Oregon, August 28, 2008
On August 28, 2008 at about 4:55 pm local time, a amateur-built Falconar F-11, registered N65017, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Creswell, Oregon (Hobby Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 a stabilized approach, inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, and failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2008 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Creswell, Oregon · Hobby Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Falconar F-11
- Registration
- N65017 · no longer on the register · serial 6249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot entered the traffic pattern and planned to land on runway 33. Initially, no traffic was observed in the pattern; however, just before announcing the base turn another airplane pilot announced that he was turning base for runway 33. The pilot observed the other airplane, which was ahead of his airplane, and he extended his downwind leg for spacing. The pilot indicated that he needed to perform a series of "S" turns to "delay landing" for spacing with the preceding airplane while heading back to the runway's center line. The pilot stated that he arrived over the threshold with above normal sink rate and below normal forward speed. The airplane bounced on the runway, the pilot lost directional control, and the airplane ground looped. The airplane came to rest in the grass with a collapsed left main landing gear. Upon the pilot's subsequent examination of the airframe, he observed that the left wing spar was cracked. The pilot said that the airplane's final approach flight path was not stabilized and that he should have performed a go-around.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 245 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2008
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 77S Creswell OR at 4:25 pm
- Destination: 77S Creswell OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,101 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.