20190305021549A

On March 5, 2019, at approximately 1500 eastern daylight time, a Velocity Rg, N101WV, was substantially damaged after it impacted terrain while attempting to land at the Statesboro-bullock county airport (ktbr). Two persons on board sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from the savannah-hilton head international airport (ksav), and was destined for Statesboro-bullock county airport (ktbr). This was an instructional flight being conducted under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations part 91 for pilots transitioning from a standard aircraft to a canard style experimental homebuilt aircraft.

The flight instructor reported that he was providing velocity transition training to a fellow flight instructor who was new to the velocity canard style aircraft. The two pilots had departed ksav enroute to ktbr to practice takeoffs and landings. The flight from ksav to ktbr was uneventful as they practiced several maneuvers on their flight path. A decision was made to attempt the first landing at ktbr on a 45 degree downwind to runway 32. The flight instructor reported that it was discussed with the student to touchdown at the 1000 foot marker. Atos reported that winds were gusting from 14 to 18 knots. The crew slowed the aircraft to 90 knots on short final when all of sudden the aircraft abruptly sank and nosed down. This caused the crew to initiate an immediate go around procedure. As they added power and full aft stick inputs the aircraft began to climb when all of a sudden the right main landing gear struck an approach light. This collision caused the aircraft to lose control and strike the ground. The aircraft than began to skid down the runway out of control until it came to rest on the ride side of the runway in the grass. The violent ground collision combined with the out of control skidding caused the fuel system to breach resulting in flames. Once the aircraft came to a complete stop, the aircrew initiated an emergency egress from the aircraft just moments before the aircraft was engulfed flames. Both the flight instructor and student pilot were taken to a local hospital, treated for minor injuries, and released that day. Although there were no visual signs, the crew reported that on final approach the aircraft displayed similar flight characteristics associated with a wind shear or microburst down draft.

Upon further examination of the accident site it was revealed that the aircraft had initially struck the grass on the approach end of runway 32, approximately 86 feet from the where the pavement begins. Further evaluation showed that the aircraft continued in a forward direction as it struck a 4-foot tall approach light. Due to the gradual increase in elevation of where the grass meets the runway the aircraft was catapulted into the air and travelled 150 feet before striking the pavement. As evidence from the surface scrapes and marks, it appears the aircraft continued to slide through the 300-foot threshold and came to rest on the right side of the runway in the grass. Once the aircraft came to rest, it was immediately engulfed in flames and was destroyed.

A review of the METAR weather report showed at 1435, winds were gusting to 16 KTS, at 1455 there were no gusts reported and at 1515, winds were gusting to 20 KTS.