# Accident 20120328003989A: Vans Aircraft RV-3A, Larchwood, IA, March 28, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 28, 2012, 12:30 local time
- Place: Larchwood, IA
- Airport: Zangger Vintage Airpark
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.4514° N, 96.4058° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4514&lon=-96.4058&mi=10
- Aircraft: N34WC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34WC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Walling R A VANS RV-3A (registry code 05608U6, https://openairdocs.org/model/walling-r-a-vans-rv-3a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS AIRCRAFT RV-3A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 1 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA209) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120328003989A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRMAN HAD BEEN CONDUCTING LANDINGS AT TEA, SD, AND WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT AFTER LANDING. FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ON THE GROUND ADVISED THE AIRMAN TO FLY TO LARCHWOOD, IA, TO CONTINUE LANDING PRACTICE, DUE TO RUNWAY BEING ALIGNED BETTER TO THE WINDS. THE AIRMAN FLEW TO LARCHWOOD AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON RUNWAY 30. HIS AIRCRAFT TRACKS INDICATE THAT HE HAD LANDED AND ROLLED OUT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, THEN DEPARTED THE RUNWAY ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE AND TAXIIED INTO A FIELD ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT PARALLED THE RUNWAY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE THEN BEGAN TO VEER BACK TO THE LEFT TOWARD THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE RUNWAY THE FRONT MAIN LANDING GEAR BECAME MIRED IN THE SOFT DIRT AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER FORWARD AND LANDED ON THE TOP, CRUSHING THE CANOPY, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND DESTROYING THE PROPELLER, AND OTHER MINOR DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN12LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA209), Mar 28, 2012: Walling Vans RV-3 (N34WC), Larchwood, IA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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