# NTSB CEN13CA545: Swedener Rans S-6ES, N611WE, Mullen, NE, September 10, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2013, 06:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Mullen, NE
- Coordinates: 42.041942, -101.058891 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0419&lon=-101.0589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 4, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88034
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA545
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88034/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA545

## Probable cause

The gopher holes and soft terrain the airplane encountered, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

## Findings

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

- [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Swedener Rodney E RANS S-6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=056212N), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Swedener Rodney E RANS S-6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056212N), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot landed the airplane at a private airstrip where the airplane contacted gopher mounds and soft ground. The nose landing gear collapsed, the airplane nosed over, and it sustained substantial empennage damage. The pilot said that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions.

## Factual narrative

The pilot landed the airplane at a private airstrip where the airplane contacted gopher mounds and soft ground. The nose landing gear collapsed, the airplane nosed over, and it sustained substantial empennage damage. The pilot said that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N611WE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N611WE), registered now, S/N 08051684, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEDENER RANS S-6ES
- Registry model: [Swedener Rodney E RANS S-6ES](https://openairdocs.org/model/swedener-rodney-e-rans-s-6es) (registry code 056212N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 08051684
- Airframe hours: 412
- Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Swendener
- Registered owner: Swendener
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 18, 2013
- Departed: BUB, BURWELL, NE
- Destination: PVT, Mullen, NE
- Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 19, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 471.5 total, 422 in this make and model, 427 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KTIF, 22 nm away

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88034. 617 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 617 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404674&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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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