# NTSB CEN23LA323: Vans RV-10, N917CM, Oshkosh, WI, July 20, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 20, 2023, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Oshkosh, WI
- Coordinates: 43.984371, -88.557043 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9844&lon=-88.5570&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA323
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192707/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192707
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA323

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare which 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: [Michael J Karaszewski VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05639UO), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Michael J Karaszewski VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639UO), [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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Michael J Karaszewski VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05639UO), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Michael J Karaszewski VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05639UO), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was landing on runway 27 at or beyond the green dot. The pilot reduced engine power after he reached the green dot. The airplane impacted the runway hard and both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N917CM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N917CM), registered now, S/N 41171, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV-10
- Registry model: [Michael J Karaszewski VANS RV-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-j-karaszewski-vans-rv-10) (registry code 05639UO) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-C4B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-c4b5) (registry code 41651, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 41171
- Year built: 2022
- Airframe hours: 109.4
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 250 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 7, 2023
- Departed: KDKB, DeKalb, IL
- Destination: KOSH, Oshkosh, WI
- Airport: KOSH, Wittman Regional Airport, runway 27, 6,179 × 150 ft
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 728 total, 114 in this make and model, 630 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 58 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KOSH

## 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 20230720011129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230720011129A), Jul 20, 2023: Michael J Karaszewski VANS RV-10, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2023 AT1835 CST, a vans experimental RV-10 [privacy data omitted] landed on runway 27 at Oshkosh WI Wittman Field and collasped the main landing…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192707. 6.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16550332&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2023-07-20%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20N917CM_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16550857&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Pictures-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.