# Accident 20250328009909A: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12, Chesterfield, VA, March 28, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 28, 2025, 14:27 local time
- Place: Chesterfield, VA
- Airport: Richmond Exec-Chesterfield Cou
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4070° N, 77.5247° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4070&lon=-77.5247&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4754, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4754) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vans RV-12 (registry code 060009Y, https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 162 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA191) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250328009909A

## Narrative

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

THE PLANE, WHICH HADN'T FLOWN IN SEVERAL MONTHS, LAUNCHED FROM RUNWAY 15 ON HIS FIRST TAKEOFF, FLEW THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND WAS MAKING HIS FIRST LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE PLANE DESCENDED UNEXPECTEDLY AND RAPIDLY, STRIKING NOSE-FIRST, WHICH CAUSED THE NOSE WHEEL AND AXLE TO DEPART THE NOSE STRUT (WHICH REMAINED INTACT), AND ONE PROPELLER BLADE TO BE DAMAGED WHILE THE OTHER SNAPPED AT ITS ROOT AND DEPARTED. A TAXIWAY EXIT WAS NEARBY AND HE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE PLANE OFF THE RUNWAY. POST CRASH FIRE RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. COMPLICATING THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT, DURING POST ACCENDENT INSPECTION, FAA INSPECTORS NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ID NOT HAVE A CURRENT CONDITION INSPECTION. ALSO, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE PUSH-PULL ROD ON THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WAS SNAPPED, THOUGH THE PILOT COULD NOT SAY IF IT WAS BEFORE OR AFTER THE ACCIDENT, DUE TO INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT. INVESTIATION SHOWED THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF THE CARBORATORS NOT SECURE ALLOWING FUEL TO SPRAY INSIDE THE COWLINGS AFTER THE IMPACT WHICH CAUSED THE POST ACCIDENT FIRE.

## 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 ERA25LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA191), Mar 28, 2025: Vans RV-12 (N4754), Chesterfield, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and the collapse of the nose landing gear.

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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