# Incident 20240507006769I: Copenhaver Melvin G RV-4, Santa Maria, CA, May 7, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 7, 2024, 13:30 local time
- Place: Santa Maria, CA
- Airport: Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan H
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8999° N, 120.4581° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SANTA MARIA PUB/CAPT G ALLAN HANCOCK FLD (SMX), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8999&lon=-120.4581&mi=10
- Aircraft: N22954, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22954) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Copenhaver Melvin G RV-4 (registry code 05625DM, https://openairdocs.org/model/copenhaver-melvin-g-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COPENHAVER MELVIN G RV-4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 750 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240507006769I

## Narrative

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

AFTER LANDING AND TRANSITING ONTO THE TAXIWAY, A STRONG GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE AIRCRAFT'S TAIL SECTION LIFTING THE TAIL AND CAUSING THE PROPELLER TO STRIKE THE TAXIWAY AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.