# NTSB ATL07CA123: Vans Vans RV-6, N345JE, Stockbridge, GA, August 20, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 20, 2007, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Stockbridge, GA - Coordinates: 33.534721, -84.178611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5347&lon=-84.1786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: College Park FSDO-11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 66533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66533/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA123 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed from Savannah International Airport, Savannah, Georgia, on a cross-country flight to his private strip in Stockbridge, Georgia. He said that during the landing roll at his private strip, he lost control of the airplane and collided with a tree. He further stated that when he examined his airplane, he noted that the leading edge of the right inboard wing was damaged. Also, he observed that the vertical stabilizer was bent slightly to the right. However, he did not feel that the airplane was substantially damaged so he decided not to report the accident. Furthermore, he said that he knew his brakes were not in the best condition, because if they were, he would have avoided the accident. The pilot felt that his airplane was still airworthy, so he flew the airplane over to Air Services Incorporated, Carrollton, Georgia to be repaired. While at the Air Services repair shop, an FAA inspector discovered that the airplane was substantially damaged. Inspection by the FAA inspector also revealed that the right wing forward spar was buckled, and the vertical stabilizer was bent approximately 45-degrees to the right. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he departed from Savannah International Airport, Savannah, Georgia, on a cross-country flight to his private strip in Stockbridge, Georgia. He said that during the landing roll at his private strip, he lost control of the airplane and collided with a tree. He further stated that when he examined his airplane, he noted that the leading edge of the right inboard wing was damaged. Also, he observed that the vertical stabilizer was bent slightly to the right. However, he did not feel that the airplane was substantially damaged so he decided not to report the accident. Furthermore, he said that he knew his brakes were not in the best condition, because if they were, he would have avoided the accident. The pilot felt that his airplane was still airworthy, so he flew the airplane over to Air Services Incorporated, Carrollton, Georgia to be repaired. While at the Air Services repair shop, an FAA inspector discovered that the airplane was substantially damaged. Inspection by the FAA inspector also revealed that the right wing forward spar was buckled, and the vertical stabilizer was bent approximately 45-degrees to the right. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N345JE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N345JE), registered now, S/N 20847, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans Aircraft Vans RV-6 - Registry model: [Ross/Stonecipher VANS RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/ross-stonecipher-vans-rv-6) (registry code 05608KS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1a) (registry code 41818, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20847 - Airframe hours: 800 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Spencer Grant - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007, 5 hours before - Departed: SAV, SAVANNAH, GA - Destination: 3GA0, Stockbridge, GA - Airport: 3GA0, Grant, runway 36, 1,100 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 87; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 32,000 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KATL, 15 nm away ## 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 20070820019509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070820019509A), Aug 20, 2007: Amtr VANSRV6, Stockbridge, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was involved in a landing accident at the owner's/pilot's Private strip. The pilot stated that there weas a tailwind condition which made… ## Other investigations on N345JE (2) 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 DEN05LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA070), Apr 22, 2005: Ross/Stonecipher Vans RV-6 (N345JE), Longmont, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power due to oil starvation. A contributing factor was the contamination in the inverted oil system's separator. - [NTSB SEA97LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA145), Jun 20, 1997: Ross/Stonecipher Vans RV-6 (N345JE), Woods Cross, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: a bird strike, which penetrated the aircraft canopy. High grass (hay crop) in the forced landing area was a related factor. 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.