# NTSB CEN19LA198: Vans RV8, N678LL, Joplin, MO, June 29, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 29, 2019, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Joplin, MO - Coordinates: 37.153057, -94.498886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1531&lon=-94.4989&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99754 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99754/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99754 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA198 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Lane Larry R RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05625O6), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lane Larry R RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05625O6), [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. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Lane Larry R RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05625O6), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Lane Larry R RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05625O6), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lane Larry R RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05625O6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane's tail was still elevated when he felt the airplane "immediately veer hard left." He said he "immediately" applied some right rudder, but the airplane continued turning left and he then applied full right rudder. The additional application of right rudder had no effect. The airplane turned and skidded 90° and came to a stop after the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2019, at 1345 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV8 airplane, N678LL, impacted terrain after it veered off runway 18 at Joplin Regional Airport (JLN), Joplin, Missouri. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to Joplin Flyers Inc and operated by Joplin Flyers Flying Club under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport, Sulphur Springs, Texas, and was destined to JLN. The pilot stated he performed a "normal" landing with flaps fully extended, and a touchdown on the main wheels with an airplane speed of about 65 knots. He applied forward control pressure on the control stick to "pin" the main wheels. He said that tail was still elevated, and the airplane speed was about 50 knots when he felt the airplane "immediately veer hard left." He said he "immediately" applied right rudder, but the airplane continued turning left and he then applied full right rudder. The additional application of right rudder had no effect; the airplane continued in the left turn and skidded 90 degrees. The airplane came to a stop after the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing struck the ground resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that the passenger felt a bump just prior to veering left but he did not. He stated that the bump and damage to the left wheel fairing may have been attributed to debris the pilot had noticed on the runway during landing. The pilot recommended that airport personnel should regularly inspect the runways for debris. As part of the airport's operational procedures, runways are regularly inspected. The inspections conducted before and after the accident revealed no evidence of foreign objects/debris except for the airplane. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, air traffic control tower personnel reported seeing the airplane veer immediately hard right, then veered immediately left and "came around." Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies with brake, wheel, or flight controls that would have precluded normal operation. The landing gear wheels spun freely; the wheels stopped when the brake was applied and disengaged when released. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N678LL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N678LL), registered now, S/N 82233, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV8 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Lane Larry R RV8](https://openairdocs.org/model/lane-larry-r-rv8) (registry code 05625O6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Mattituck IO-360](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mattituck-io-360) (registry code 59603, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 82233 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 553 - Engines: Lycoming IO360-M1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joplin Flyers Flying Club - Registered owner: Joplin Flyers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 15, 2019 - Departed: SLR, Sulphur Springs, TX - Destination: JLN, Joplin, MO - Airport: JLN, Joplin Regional Airport, runway 18, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 785 total, 214 in this make and model, 722 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: JLN ## 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 20190629008529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190629008529A), Jun 29, 2019: Lane Larry R RV8, Joplin, MO, Substantial damage. Upon landing on rwy 18 at approximately 65 KTS, pilot reported the aircraft veered hard left when the front wheels were pinned and the tail wheel was still in… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99754. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482901&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Correspondence - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Correspondence%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Record of Correspondence - Airport (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20-%20Airport-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.