# NTSB CEN25LA190: Nelson Special, N873YD, Hope, AR, May 29, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2025, 10:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Hope, AR
- Coordinates: 33.719981, -93.658904 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7200&lon=-93.6589&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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): 200247
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA190
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200247/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA190

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll.

## 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: [Gerald Nelson NELSON SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05638SB), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Gerald Nelson NELSON SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05638SB), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gerald Nelson NELSON SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=05638SB), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/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: [Gerald Nelson NELSON SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05638SB), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Gerald Nelson NELSON SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05638SB), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he applied the brakes, and the airplane subsequently nosed down; the propeller then struck the runway surface. The airplane came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that the wind was gusty at the time of the landing. He reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N873YD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N873YD), registered now, S/N 1931, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Nelson Special
- Registry model: [Gerald Nelson NELSON SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/gerald-nelson-nelson-special) (registry code 05638SB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-d) (registry code 42089, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1931
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 2
- Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 2, 2025, 6 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: M18, Hope Municipal Airport, runway 16/34, 5,501 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 93; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review June 3, 2025; flight hours: 2,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KTXK, 23 nm away
- METAR: METAR KTXK 291553Z 21008KT 10SM BKN017 27/21 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP171 T02670206=

## 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 20250529007679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250529007679A), May 29, 2025: Gerald Nelson NELSON SPECIAL, Hope, AR, Substantial damage. The pilot completed a three-point landing at the intersection of ryws 4/22 and 16/34 while landing on rwy 16. Just after landing and at the beginning of the…

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.

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