# NTSB ATL99LA068: Vans RV-6A, N239RB, Cedar Creek, NC, April 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 1999, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Cedar Creek, NC - Coordinates: 35.049263, -78.869232 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0493&lon=-78.8692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46024/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA068 ## Probable cause The soft runway surface. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (cause) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff visibility deteriorated, and the pilot decided to land at an airport short of his destination. When the visibility worsened, the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing on a private grass strip. Upon landing the runway surface, the turf was soft, and the airplane nosed over. No mechanical problems with the aircraft were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 1999, about 1130 eastern daylight time, an experimental VANS RV-6A airplane, N239RV, nosed over while attempting a landing on a private grass strip near Fayetteville, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual Meteorological Conditions prevailed at the accident site with no flight plan filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Rocky Mount, North Carolina, at 1015 enroute to Ft. Myers, Florida. According to the pilot, at 0600, he telephoned the Flight Service Station requested a weather briefing. weather. At 0600, the flight departed from Warwick, New York, enroute to Ft. Myers, Florida. When the flight departed visual weather conditions prevailed, with no ceiling. At 0820, the flight approached the Cheasepeake Bay area, where weather conditions changed and there was an overcast layer of clouds 12,000 feet. The pilot decided to land at Easton, Maryland for refueling, and the pilot received an update of his initial weather briefing; weather conditions were described as "good." At 1015, the flight landed at Rocky Mount, North Carolina where he again refueled and checked computerized weather. Shortly after departing Rocky Mount, visibility began to deteriorate, and the pilot decided to land at Greys Creek, North Carolina. When the visibility worsened, the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing on a private grass strip. Upon landing on the runway surface, the pilot discovered that the turf was soft, and the airplane nosed over. No mechanical problems with the aircraft were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N239RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N239RB-2000-03-20), registration cancelled 2000-03-20, S/N 24002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV-6A - Registry model: [Patrissi Richard RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/patrissi-richard-rv-6a) (registry code 05606II) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24002 - Airframe hours: 45 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard Patrissi - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: RWI, ROCKY MOUNT, NC - Destination: FMY, FT MYERS, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 55 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FAY ## 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 19990405020369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990405020369A), Apr 5, 1999: Amtr RV6A, Cedar Creek, NC, Substantial damage. On April 5, 1999, about 1110 eastern daylight time, an experimental vans RV-6A airplane, N239RV, nosed over while attempting a landing near Cedar Creek, north… 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.