Amateur-built TEAM ROCKET F1 accident near Heber, Utah, April 23, 2011
On April 23, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built TEAM ROCKET F1, registered N5491W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Heber, Utah (Russ Mcdonald 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 directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Heber, Utah · Russ Mcdonald Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TEAM ROCKET F1
- Registration
- N5491W · registry record · serial 081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning from a local flight. Upon landing, the airplane bounced slightly and, after the tailwheel touched down, the airplane veered sharply to the right. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control with left rudder and brake; however, the airplane departed the runway and traveled into the grassy area between the runway and taxiway. As the airplane slowed, it turned sharply to the right, which allowed the right wing to contact the ground. While the pilot thought that the left brake may have failed after touchdown, due to the damage to the landing gear assembly he was not able to perform a brake inspection. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane with no mechanical anomalies identified.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 390 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 17, 2011; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 36U Heber UT at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 36U Heber UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 6,898 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:00 pm from 36U
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.