# NTSB CEN24LA066: Vans RV6, N113DT, Searcy, AR, December 12, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 11, 2023, 18:50 local (Dec 12, 2023, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Searcy, AR - Coordinates: 35.206111, -91.739722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2061&lon=-91.7397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 193535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193535/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193535 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot-rated passenger’s reported failure to maintain control during the 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: [Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056147M), [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: [Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056147M), [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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056147M), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056147M), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=056147M), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056147M), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=056147M), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after he had landed the airplane, the pilot-rated passenger requested to take the flight controls and fly the airplane around the traffic pattern. The pilot agreed. The pilot stated that the night flight in the traffic pattern was satisfactory, but when the passenger turned onto the final approach, they were low and slow. The pilot told the passenger to perform a go-around and he applied full throttle, but the left wing and left tire contacted the runway. The pilot reported that the passenger pulled back on the yoke and the airplane bounced back into the air. The airplane impacted the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights, stalled, impacted the ground on the main landing gear, skidded about 20 ft, and flipped over. The passenger stated that he does not recall flying the airplane and his last memory is of the ambulance ride to the hospital. The vertical stabilizer and left-wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies. Based on the pilot’s statement, it is likely that the passenger failed to maintain control during the landing. ## Factual narrative On December 11, 2023, about 1850 central standard time, a Van’s Aircraft RV-6A, N113DT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Searcy Municipal Airport (SRC) in Searcy, Arkansas. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight test. The pilot-rated passenger, who was also an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization, reported that the pilot requested that he accompany him on a flight test after the No. 1 cylinder was replaced. The passenger reported that the engine run-up was uneventful except for a brief “stumble” when switching the magnetos to the electronic magnetos. The pilot assured him that the engine response was normal. The pilot reported that they departed runway 19 at SRC and flew to Woodruff County Airport (M60) in Augusta, Arkansas. The passenger stated that the airplane performed unremarkably during the flight to M60 except for a brief stumble in rpm when the throttle was retarded to 1,500 rpm. After performing one landing at M60, they returned to SRC. The pilot reported that he performed two landings at SRC. After the second landing he intended to taxi the airplane to the parking area, but the passenger asked if he could take the airplane around the traffic pattern. The pilot agreed. The pilot stated that the flight in the traffic pattern was satisfactory, but when the passenger turned onto final approach, they were too low and slow. The pilot told him to perform a go-around. The passenger pushed the throttle all the way forward and the nose of the airplane yawed to the left. The left wingtip and left tire contacted the runway. The passenger pulled back on the yoke and the airplane bounced back into the air. The left wing impacted the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights. The pilot told the passenger to land the airplane, but the passenger told him that he could save it. The pilot reported that the airplane stalled, impacted the ground on the main landing gear, skidded about 20 ft, and flipped over. The airplane came to rest inverted in a field next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The passenger reported that he does not remember flying the airplane. He stated that his last memory before the ambulance ride was flying back to SRC from M60. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N113DT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N113DT), registered now, S/N 25479 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV6 (A) - Registry model: [Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gough-alan-gough-rv6a) (registry code 056147M) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 25479 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 436 - Engines: Lycoming O-320E3D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 1, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SRC, Searcy Municipal Airport, runway 01, 6,008 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 6, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 137 total, 91 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 52; injuries: minor; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 754 total, 702 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KSRC - METAR: KSRC 120056Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 04/M02 A3028 ## 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 20231211019419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231211019419A), Dec 11, 2023: Gough Alan GOUGH RV6A, Searcy, AR, Substantial damage. While on approach to runway 01 at Searcy Arkansas municipal airport (ksrc) the aircraft [privacy data omitted] sitting in the left seat allowed the airman… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193535. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16521249&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form.RE-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16782169&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Passenger statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16516568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%20to%20LR%20FSDO%20concerning%20N113DT%20and%20accident%20incident%2012_11_2023%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Police report (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16782864&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Custom%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA inspector (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16779637&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-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.