# NTSB CHI00LA025: Mancini Vans RV-4, N517A, North Platte, NE, November 8, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1999, 13:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place: North Platte, NE
- Coordinates: 41.129997, -100.770927 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1300&lon=-100.7709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47752
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47752/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA025

## Probable cause

aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot.  A factor to the accident was the crosswind weather condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing flare, the wind 'weathercocked' the airplane to the right.  The pilot stated that he added left rudder and power and as the airplane, '...came straight the wind got under the R [right] wing and lifted it vertical.'  The pilot reported that the left wing tip contacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled hitting the nose, then the right wingtip, and finally the tail.  The airplane came to rest in an up-right attitude.

## Factual narrative

On November 8, 1999, at 1335 central standard time, a Mancini Vans RV-4, N517A, built and piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage, following a loss of control during landing on runway 12 (8,000 feet by 150 feet, dry/concrete), at the North Platte Regional Airport, North Platte, Nebraska.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan.  The pilot reported no injuries.  The flight originally departed Santa Fe Municipal Airport, Santa Fe, New Mexico, at 1030.

According to the pilot's written statement, during the landing flare, the wind "weathercocked" the airplane to the right.  The pilot stated that he added left rudder and power and as the airplane, "...came straight the wind got under the R [right] wing and lifted it vertical."  The pilot reported that the left wing tip contacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled hitting the nose, then the right wingtip, and finally the tail.  The airplane came to rest in an up-right attitude.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N517A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N517A-2000-08-17), registration cancelled 2000-08-17, S/N 815 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mancini VANS RV-4
- Registry model: [Mancini Angelo J RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/mancini-angelo-j-rv-4) (registry code 05603H1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 815
- Airframe hours: 240
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Angelo John Mancini
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1999, 10 hours before
- Departed: SAF, SANTA FE, NM
- Destination: LBF
- Airport: LBF, North Platte Regional, runway 12, 8,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,064 total, 252 in this make and model, 1,022 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LBF

## 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 19991108042789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991108042789A), Nov 8, 1999: Amtr RV4, North Platte, NE, No damage. (-23) As reported by the pilot, while on final approach to North Platte regional airport, runway 12, at approx. 3 feet AGL., and 55 to 60 mph IAS, the a/c…

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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