# NTSB CEN24LA149: Van's RV-12iS, N245EM, Lake Elmo, MN, April 5, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 5, 2024, 14:54 local (19:54 UTC) - Place: Lake Elmo, MN · Runway 32. - Coordinates: 44.994257, -92.853946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9943&lon=-92.8539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - 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 Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194048/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194048 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA149 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and the nose gear collapsing. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot’s lack of experience. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot was landing the light-sport airplane on the runway when it bounced multiple times. The nose gear collapsed, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway in a nose-down attitude. The student pilot was able to exit the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by initiating a go-around after the first bounce but concluded that his reason for not initiating a go-around, was due to his lack of experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N245EM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N245EM), registered now, S/N 12094, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Van's Aircraft RV-12iS - Registry model: [Vans RV-12IS](https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12is) (registry code 06001B1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12094 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 812.6 - Engines: Rotax Aircraft Engines 912iS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: TC Asset and Rentals, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 8, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 21D, Lake Elmo, runway 14/32, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 49 total, 49 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KSTP, 9 nm away - METAR: KSTP 051953Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 14/M02 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP214 T01391022 $ ## 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 20240405003429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240405003429A), Apr 5, 2024: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12IS, Lake Elmo, MN, Substantial damage. While practicing landings and pattern work the solo student pilot porpoised on landing. After several bounces the nose landing gear broke off the aircraft. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194048. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17023823&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N245EM%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17022225&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Van's aircraft RV-12IS pilot's operating handbook - excerpt (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17023351&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Van%27s%20Aircraft%20RV-12iS%20POH%20Excerpt-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.