# NTSB CEN17CA345: Shiner RV-4, N70RV, Ramah, NM, September 9, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 9, 2017, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Ramah, NM
- Coordinates: 35.165279, -108.458885 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1653&lon=-108.4589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95986
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17CA345
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95986/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95986
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA345

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from berms during landing in sun glare conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Shiner Burton S JR RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05608GG), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shiner Burton S JR RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05608GG), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Shiner Burton S JR RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=05608GG), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Shiner Burton S JR RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=05608GG), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/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: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Shiner Burton S JR RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05608GG), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that that the sun was in his eyes as he was landing his low-wing airplane. He said that there were 3-ft-high berms in the area where the airplane touched down and that the runway was about 30 ft wide. The left wing struck the berm and the weeds. The propeller then impacted the berm, followed by the right wing and tailwheel. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing his low wing airplane. The pilot stated that the sun was in his eyes when he was landing the airplane. He said that the berms were 3 ft high in the area where the airplane touched down and the runway was about 30 ft wide. The left wing struck the berm and the weeds. The airplane's propeller then impacted the berm followed by the right wing and tailwheel. The right wing sustained substantial damage during the impact with the berm. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70RV), registered now, S/N 2139, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SHINER RV-4
- Registry model: [Shiner Burton S JR RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/shiner-burton-s-jr-rv-4) (registry code 05608GG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2139
- Year built: 1991
- Airframe hours: 1264
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, November 16, 2016
- Departed: E98, LOS LUNAS, NM
- Destination: NM56, RAMAH, NM
- Airport: NM56, Mystic Bluffs, runway 06, 2,870 × 40 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 26, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,414 total, 750 in this make and model, 1,383 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: KGUP, 27 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 20170909011449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170909011449A), Sep 9, 2017: Shiner Burton S Jr RV-4, Ramah, NM, Substantial damage. On September 9, 2017, at approximately 0849 MDT, a Shiner Burton S Jr, RV-4, N70RV registered to the pilot, struck a berm with the left wing tip during the…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95986. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 711 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement - Communication Summary G. Donovan (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20-%20Communication%20Summary%20G.%20Donovan-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records - Solar Position (item 3, .PDF, 886 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457151&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20Solar%20Position-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457152&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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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