# NTSB CEN22LA191: Vans RV6A, N5060, Mankato, MN, May 4, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 3, 2022, 19:48 local (May 4, 2022, 00:48 UTC) - Place: Mankato, MN · on airport property - Coordinates: 44.2227, -93.9193 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2227&lon=-93.9193&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105049/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105049 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA191 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a higher airspeed. ## 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: [Gold Andrew RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056030R), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gold Andrew RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=056030R), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: [Gold Andrew RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056030R), [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: [Gold Andrew RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056030R), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Gold Andrew RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056030R), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while landing the airplane slowed and, as the nosewheel touched down, the airplane abruptly lurched to the side. The airplane exited the runway surface, struck a berm, became airborne, and came to rest nose down near the airport perimeter fence. The firewall, left wing, and rudder sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the flight controls and landing gear revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations; the damage was consistent with impact and overload from the accident sequence. Based upon the ground scars and condition of the nose landing gear it is likely that the pilot landed the airplane with excessive speed and lost directional control. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2022, about 1948 central daylight time, a Vans RV-6A, N5060, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Mankato, Minnesota. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he entered downwind for a left traffic pattern for runway 15. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold the pilot reduced the engine power to idle; shortly thereafter, the main landing gear touched down onto the runway surface. The airplane slowed, and as the nosewheel touched down the airplane abruptly lurched to the side. The airplane exited the runway surface, struck a berm, and came to rest nose down. The firewall, left wing, and rudder sustained substantial damage. The airplane came to rest about 450 ft north of the Bravo taxiway and about 625 ft east of the centerline for runway 15, near the airport perimeter fence. The ground scars between the runway and the airplane were not continuous. The airplane was recovered to a facility for further examination. The bolts securing the nosegear to the strut were fractured. The nosegear strut was wedged in place but was able to rotate. A postaccident examination of the flight controls and landing gear revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5060](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5060-2023-06-17), registration cancelled 2023-06-17, S/N 20815 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV6A - Registry model: [Gold Andrew RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gold-andrew-rv-6a) (registry code 056030R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20815 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 374.1 - Engines: Lycoming O360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 14, 2021 - Departed: K12Y, Le Sueur, MN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MKT, Mankato Regional Airport, runway 15, 6,600 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review November 16, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,059 total, 33 in this make and model, 1,059 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Icing: Clear - Observed at: KMKT - METAR: KMKT 050056Z AUTO 17003KT 10SM CLR 14/04 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP209 T01440039 ## 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 20220503005499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220503005499A), May 3, 2022: Gold Andrew RV-6A, Mankato, MN, Substantial damage. Aircraft was landing on rwy 15. Aircraft departed the runway to the left. Bounced approximately 3 times thru the grass. Aircraft then hit an earthen berm at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105049. 9.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14249221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Examination summary statement (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16011176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=nose%20gear%20examination%20508-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17017585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ROC-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 655 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14252546&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA191%20-%20Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-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.