# NTSB ATL01LA035: Michael E. Nourse RV-6A, N6279E, Immokalee, FL, February 12, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 11, 2001, 19:50 local (Feb 12, 2001, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Immokalee, FL - Coordinates: 26.189702, -81.710517 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1897&lon=-81.7105&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Miami FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51760/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, and his evaluation of the gusty wind conditions resulted in the collision with the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - buckled (cause) - Roll over, landing ## Analysis According to the pilot, upon landing, the nose gear failed and buckled under the airframe. The nose then contacted the runway, the airplane then slid into the grass, and flipped over. According to the passenger, after a "very hard landing" the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded off the left side of runway. The passenger also reported that the airplane began to cartwheel after it skidded into the grass. The weather conditions at the time of accident: wind 140 degrees at 10 knots with gust up to 24 knots. The wreckage examination failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 2001, at 1950 eastern standard time, a Michael E. Nourse, RV-6A, N6279E, an experimental airplane, collided with the ground during a hard landing at the Immokalee Regional Airport, in Immokalee, Florida. The personal fight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no fight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot received serious injuries, and his passenger was not injured. The flight departed Immokalee, Florida, at 1935 hours. The pilot reported that, upon landing, the nose gear failed and buckled under the airframe. The nose then contacted the runway, the airplane then slid into the grass, and nosed over. According to the passenger, it was his first flight in the RV-6A experimental airplane. He reported after a "very hard landing" the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded off the left side of the runway. The passenger reported, that the airplane began to cartwheel after it skidded into the grass. The weather conditions at the time of accident were: wind 140 degrees at 10 knots with gust up to 24 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical or component failure. The wreckage examination also did not reveal any mechanical problems with the airplane. The date and flight hours since the last airframe maintenance inspection was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6279E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6279E-2016-09-06), registration cancelled 2016-09-06, S/N 24735 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MICHAEL E. NOURSE RV-6A - Registry model: [Nourse Michael E RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/nourse-michael-e-rv-6a) (registry code 056063B) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24735 - Airframe hours: 60 - Engines: Chevrolet V-6, 4.3L 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael E. Nourse - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: IMM, IMMOKALEE, FL - Airport: IMM, Immokalee, runway 090, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 28, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 204 total, 54 in this make and model, 67 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: IMM ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010211003449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010211003449A), Feb 11, 2001: Amtr RV6A, Immokalee, FL, Substantial damage. (-19)On February 11, 2001, at 1950 EST, a RV-6A, N6279E, an experimental airplane, collided with the ground during a hard landing at the Immokalee regional… 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. --- 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.