# NTSB CEN13CA064: Lawson Ron Rans S-19, N434KL, Crowley, LA, November 10, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 10, 2012, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Crowley, LA
- Coordinates: 30.214166, -92.260559 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2142&lon=-92.2606&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85633
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85633/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85633
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA064

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and the airplane nosing over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was approaching to land at his private airstrip and that he misjudged the airplane height above the runway and incorrectly relaxed back pressure on the control stick, which allowed the nosewheel to contact the runway before the main landing gear. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was approaching to land at his private airstrip at the time of the accident. He stated that he misjudged the airplane height above the runway and incorrectly relaxed back pressure on the control stick, which allowed the nose wheel to contact the runway before the main landing gear. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted that there were no failures or malfunctions related to the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N434KL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LAWSON RON RANS S-19
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 090800035
- Airframe hours: 79
- Engines: ROTAX 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 27, 2012, 40 hours before
- Departed: OPL, Opelousas, LA
- Destination: PVT, Crowley, LA
- Airport: PVT, Private, runway 27, 1,800 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review February 8, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 737 total, 79 in this make and model, 737 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: LFT, 20 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 20121110025389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121110025389A), Nov 10, 2012: Lawson Ron RANS S-19, Crowley, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land to the west on a grass runway with 10-15 knot winds from the south. Poor cross-wind landing technique caused the nose wheel to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85633. 457 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Conversation Record -- Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Pilot-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.

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