# NTSB CEN14LA471: Boring Robert Burton RV6A, N613LE, Las Cruces, NM, September 1, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2014, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Las Cruces, NM - Coordinates: 32.289443, -106.921943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2894&lon=-106.9219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90002 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA471 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90002/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90002 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA471 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing a stall/spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Boring Robert Burton RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05610NG), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boring Robert Burton RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05610NG), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boring Robert Burton RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610NG), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Boring Robert Burton RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05610NG), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he and another pilot had conducted a series of touch-and-go landings. He added that, after takeoff for the accident touch-and-go landing and during the base-to-final turn in the airport traffic pattern, the airplane's bank angle was too steep, its nose attitude was too high, and its airspeed was low. The airplane then entered a stall/spin. The pilot was able to recover to a wings-level, nose-low attitude before the airplane impacted the ground short of the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2014, about 0830 mountain daylight time, an amateur-built RV-6A airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground following a loss of control during a landing approach to runway 8 at the Las Cruces International Airport, Las Cruces, New Mexico. The pilot received serious injuries and the pilot rated passenger received minor injuries. The airplane received substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated about 0730. The pilot reported that he and another pilot had performed a series of touch and go landings using runway 26. They then continued making touch and go landings using the other runways at the airport. The last takeoff prior to the accident was made from runway 22. They then entered a left downwind for runway 8, and then turned from the downwind to the base leg. The pilot stated that the base to final turn started to get steep as to not "overrun the runway" and the nose attitude was slightly high. When the airplane was about halfway through the base to final turn, the pilot felt that the airplane was slow and they needed to get the nose down. About that time he felt the pre-stall "burble" and he immediately knew that the airplane bank was too steep and the airspeed was too slow. He immediately pushed forward on the controls as the stall/spin began. He was able to recovery to a wings level, nose low attitude before the airplane impacted the ground short of the runway. In his report he stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N613LE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N613LE-2018-03-06), registration cancelled 2018-03-06, S/N 23993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BORING ROBERT BURTON RV6A (A) - Registry model: [Boring Robert Burton RV6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/boring-robert-burton-rv6a) (registry code 05610NG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23993 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 324.2 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 6, 2014 - Departed: LRU, Las Cruces, NM - Destination: LRU, Las Cruces, NM - Airport: LRU, Las Cruces Intl, runway 08, 6,069 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 773 total, 10 in this make and model, 743 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: LRU, 1 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 20140901015379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140901015379A), Sep 1, 2014: Boring Robert Burton RV6A, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. On September 1, 2014 at approximately 0700 MDT, N613LE (Boring Robert Burton RV6A) departed Las Cruces international airport (klru), Las Cruces, NM on an… ## Other investigations on N613LE (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN09CA480](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA480), Jul 31, 2009: Boring Robert Burton RV6A (N613LE), Demming, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to manage and monitor fuel usage. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90002. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431887&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. --- 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.