Amateur-built SHORTFIELD EXPLORER accident near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, February 18, 2022
On February 18, 2022 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 2020 amateur-built SHORTFIELD EXPLORER, registered N141E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho (Coeur D' Alene Pappy Boyington 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 improper landing flare which, resulted in a bounced landing, loss of airplane control and subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2022 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Coeur D'Alene, Idaho · Coeur D' Alene Pappy Boyington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SHORTFIELD EXPLORER NO SERIES, built 2020
- Registration
- N141E · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, he planned for a wheel landing. Shortly after the main landing gear touched down followed by the tailwheel, the main landing gear lifted off the ground. The pilot pitched the airplane forward, but the airplane continued to bounce. The pilot again applied forward pressure to the control stick when the tail lifted, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The rudder, wing struts and forward fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 235 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 21, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: unkn
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,614.6 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 31, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 B2A (piston); 2,614 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCOE Coeur D' Alene ID at 11:40 pm
- Destination: KCOE Coeur D' Alene ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2/20, 5,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
Weather report (METAR): KCOE 182356Z AUTO 23003KT 10SM CLR 09/01 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP283 6//// T00940006 10100 2050 56010 PNO $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2022. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR22LA104.