# NTSB CEN19CA227: Vans RV-8, N143MS, Oshkosh, WI, July 20, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2019, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.984443, -88.556663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9844&lon=-88.5567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19CA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99889/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99889 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA227 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate spacing from the lead airplane while landing following revised landing instructions, which necessitated that the pilot conduct an improper landing flare and resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Seavolt Jason E RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05635BO), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Seavolt Jason E RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=05635BO), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Air traffic/operating proc: traffic congestion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014070): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Seavolt Jason E RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014070/cases.md?model=05635BO), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014070/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: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100); cases with it: [Seavolt Jason E RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100/sequence.md?model=05635BO), [All aircraft, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Seavolt Jason E RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05635BO), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was the second airplane in a flight of two and had been instructed by the air traffic controller to land on the orange dot on the runway (dots were used to facilitate multiple landings for the fly-in). During the descending turn from the base leg to the final leg, the pilot saw a third airplane. The third airplane appeared to be landing straight-in to the same runway. The air traffic controller instructed the flight of two to land further down the runway, on the green dot, to accommodate the third airplane. As the pilot adjusted the engine power and descent rate for the new landing point, he noted that the closure rate with the lead airplane in his flight of two had increased and that the lead airplane decelerated quickly as it landed. The pilot increased the pitch to overfly and avoid a collision with the lead airplane. After he confirmed that he was past the lead airplane, he adjusted the pitch and engine power to land, but the airplane landed hard. During the landing, the airplane settled left wing down and veered left off the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The private pilot reported that he was the second airplane in a flight of two and had been instructed by the air traffic controller to land on the orange dot on runway 27 (dots used to facilitate multiple landings for the fly-in). During the descending turn from the base leg to the final leg, the pilot observed a third airplane. The third airplane appeared to be landing straight-in to runway 27. The air traffic controller instructed the flight of 2 to land further down the runway, on the green dot, to accommodate the third airplane. As the pilot adjusted his engine power and descent rate for the new landing point, he noted that the closure rate with the lead airplane (in his flight of 2) increased and the lead airplane decelerated quickly as it landed. The pilot increased the pitch of the airplane to overfly and avoid a collision with the lead airplane. After he confirmed that he was past the lead airplane, he adjusted the pitch of the airplane and engine power to land, but landed hard. During the hard landing the airplane settled left wing down and veered to the left off the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N143MS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N143MS), registered now, S/N 83140, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV-8 - Registry model: [Seavolt Jason E RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/seavolt-jason-e-rv-8) (registry code 05635BO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-390-X](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-390-x) (registry code 43001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 83140 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 315 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-390-EXP 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 24, 2019 - Departed: KDKB, De Kalb, IL - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: OSH, Wittman Regional Airport, runway 27, 6,179 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,445 total, 315 in this make and model, 1,350 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: KOSH, 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 20190720015149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190720015149A), Jul 20, 2019: Seavolt Jason E VANS RV-8, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2019 at 0930 CST, N143MS registered as a 2107 vans RV-8 experimental aircraft, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99889. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477869&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.