# NTSB CEN09CA589: Diehl KR-2, N4DD, Mt. Vernon, IL, September 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2009, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Mt. Vernon, IL - Coordinates: 38.323333, -88.858612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3233&lon=-88.8586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA589 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74751/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74751 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA589 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare while landing with gusting winds and his failure to perform a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diehl KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05648B2), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diehl KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05648B2), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Diehl KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05648B2), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diehl KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05648B2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Diehl KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05648B2), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Diehl KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05648B2), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing attempt at the destination airport, the airplane got "...caught by a gust of wind..." during touchdown. As the gust subsided, the plane landed hard in a nose-down, right-wing-low attitude. The airplane's right wing separated and the firewall became damaged, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot further stated that, had he been aware of any turbulence or gusting winds, he would have not made the flight. A witness stated that the pilot obtained and received wind and runway information via the common traffic advisory frequency. Upon the pilot's initial request for wind information, he was advised that winds were 050 degrees at 8 knots and later advised that winds were 090 degrees at 12 knots following his second request for wind information. ## Factual narrative The pilot was en route to the destination airport where he attempted a landing during which the airplane bounced on runway 05 (6,496 feet by 150 feet, dry asphalt). The airplane's right wing separated and the firewall became damaged resulting in substantial damage. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot stated that the airplane got "...caught by a gust of wind..." during touchdown and had he been aware of any turbulence or gusting winds he would have never made the flight. A witness stated that the pilot obtained and received wind and runway information via the common traffic advisory frequency. Upon the pilot's initial request for wind information, he was advised that winds were 050 degrees at 8 knots and and later advised that winds were 090 degrees at 12 knots following his second request for wind information. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4DD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4DD-2022-04-02), registration cancelled 2022-04-02, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diehl KR-2 - Registry model: [Diehl KR-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/diehl-kr-2) (registry code 05648B2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 1850 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 8, 2008 - Departed: HUF, Indianapolis, IN - Destination: MVN, Mt. Vernon, IL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MVN, Mount Vernon Airport, runway 05, 6,496 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 302 total, 5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: MVN ## 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 20090917020179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090917020179A), Sep 17, 2009: Amtr KR2, Mount Vernon, IL, Destroyed. The pilot and sole occupant of N4DD, a kr 2 experimental amateur built aircraft en route to mt. Vernon, IL (mvn) was on approach to land on runway 05.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74751. 713 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 554 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF 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.