# NTSB CEN21LA227: Varner David L Vans RV-8, N51LV, Watkins, CO, May 12, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 12, 2021, 12:41 local (18:41 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.775485, -104.59433 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7755&lon=-104.5943&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103112 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103112/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103112 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA227 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Varner David L VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05625XI), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Varner David L VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05625XI), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Varner David L VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05625XI), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Varner David L VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05625XI), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Varner David L VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05625XI), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Varner David L VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05625XI), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on his third landing in his recently purchased tailwheel-equipped airplane and while decelerating through 40 knots, the airplane veered to the right and proceeded toward the edge of the runway. The pilot applied left brake to regain control and both brakes when he realized the airplane would depart the right side of the runway. The airplane departed the runway surface, the main wheels contacted the soft terrain, and the airplane tipped forward onto the nose and left wingtip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51LV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51LV), registered now, S/N 81871, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VARNER DAVID L VANS RV-8 - Registry model: [Varner David L VANS RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/varner-david-l-vans-rv-8) (registry code 05625XI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B1B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b1b) (registry code 41858, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81871 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 299.9 - Engines: Aerosport IO-360-B1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 6, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CFO, Colorado Air And Space Port, runway 08/26, 8,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 16, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,320 total, 7 in this make and model, 2,816 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg ## 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 20210512008999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210512008999A), May 12, 2021: Varner David L VANS RV-8, Watkins, CO, Minor damage. Pilot was conducting touch and gos at Colorado air and Space Port in clear and calm weather. The aircraft touched down on runway 26 when the aircraft veered… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103112. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12295918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20NTSB%20NealFilledSigned_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12295994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.