# NTSB CEN12LA668: Thompson RV-6, N140RV, Pagosa Springs, CO, September 20, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2012, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Pagosa Springs, CO - Coordinates: 37.286388, -107.055831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2864&lon=-107.0558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA668 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85219/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85219 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA668 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of landing experience at high density altitudes. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Michael E RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05614RS), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Michael E RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05614RS), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Michael E RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000/cases.md?model=05614RS), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Thompson Michael E RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=05614RS), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Thompson Michael E RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05614RS), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Thompson Michael E RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05614RS), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Thompson Michael E RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05614RS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that since there was no appreciable wind he chose the landing runway because of its slight upslope. He reported that he made an uneventful wheel-landing, with the wing flaps partially extended, and that he was able to maintain directional control until the tailwheel made contact with the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane immediately began to swerve left after the tailwheel contacted the runway. He reportedly overcorrected and the airplane swerved to the right. The pilot overcorrected for a second time and the airplane swerved left. The pilot’s attempts to regain directional control were unsuccessful and the airplane departed off the left side of the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted terrain during the runway excursion. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He postulated that the airplane’s elevated true airspeed and ground speed, due to the high density altitude conditions, contributed to his inability to maintain directional control during landing roll. He further noted that he was unaccustomed with landing at high density altitudes and that the accident might have been prevented had he performed a full-stall (three-point) landing instead of a wheel-landing. The calculated density altitude was 10,081 feet. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2012, about 1215 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Thompson model RV-6 airplane, N140RV, was substantially damaged while landing at Stevens Field Airport (PSO), Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from Las Vegas Municipal Airport (LVS), Las Vegas, New Mexico, about 1130.The pilot reported that before landing he obtained the current weather conditions from the airport’s automated weather broadcast, which indicated a calm wind condition and a density altitude of about 10,000 feet. He stated that since there was no appreciable wind, he chose to land on runway 1 (8,100 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) because of its slight upslope. He reported that he made an uneventful wheel-landing, with the wing flaps partially extended, and that he was able to maintain directional control until the tailwheel made contact with the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane immediately began to swerve left after the tailwheel contacted the runway. He reportedly overcorrected with an application of right rudder pedal input and the airplane swerved to the right. The pilot attempted to correct for the right swerve with a left rudder pedal input, but he overcorrected for a second time and the airplane swerved left. The pilot’s attempts to regain directional control were unsuccessful and the airplane departed off the left side of the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted terrain during the runway excursion. The right wing and firewall were damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He postulated that the airplane’s elevated true airspeed and ground speed, due to the high density altitude conditions, contributed to his inability to maintain directional control during landing roll. He further noted that he was unaccustomed with landing at high density altitudes and that the accident might have been prevented had he performed a full-stall (three-point) landing instead of a wheel-landing. At 1215, the airport’s automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 220 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 22 degrees Celsius, dew point -11 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.34 inches of mercury. The airport elevation was listed as 7,664 feet mean sea level. The calculated density altitude was 10,081 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N140RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N140RV), registered now, S/N 25368, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THOMPSON RV-6 - Registry model: [Thompson Michael E RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-michael-e-rv-6) (registry code 05614RS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 25368 - Airframe hours: 621 - Engines: Aero Sport Power O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2012 - Departed: LVS, Las Vegas, NM - Destination: PSO, Pagosa Springs, CO - Airport: PSO, Stevens Field Airport, runway 01, 8,100 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 19, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 811 total, 624 in this make and model, 781 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: PSO ## 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 20120920021259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120920021259A), Sep 20, 2012: Thompson Michael E RV-6, Pagosa Springs, CO, Substantial damage. On 09/20/2012 at approximately 1120 hrs. MDT, N140RV, an experimental Thompson, michael e. model RV-6 aircraft sustained substantial damage while landing at… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85219. 494 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Joshua Pritchard) (item 2, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Joshua%20Pritchard)-Redacted.PDF - FAA Airport Facility Directory Entry (KPSO) (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Airport%20Facility%20Directory%20Entry%20(KPSO)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - Density Altitude Calculation (item 5, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Density%20Altitude%20Calculation-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.