# NTSB CHI97LA246: Young RV-4, N654Y, Sparta, WI, August 1, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1997, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Sparta, WI
- Location: 43.9587° N, 90.7378° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SPARTA/FORT MC COY (CMY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9587&lon=-90.7378&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA246
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA246

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in an improper flare and hard landing.  The gusty wind was a related factor.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during landing, a gust of wind caught the airplane, and it bounced. He added power to smooth out the landing, but it bounced once again. He then added full power in an attempt to go-around, but he noticed the engine was vibrating from the propeller having struck the runway. He reduced the power to idle, and then the airplane descended and contacted the terrain off the right side of the runway.

## Factual narrative

On August 1, 1997, at 1320 central daylight time (cdt), a Young RV-4, N654Y, operated by a commercial pilot collided with the terrain while landing on runway 19 (4,295' x 100') at the Fort McCoy Airport, Sparta, Wisconsin.  The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The pilot and passenger were not injured.  The flight originated from Yankton, South Dakota, at approximately 1100 cdt.

The pilot reported he was intending to land at Sparta for fuel while en route to Oshkosh.  He reported that he chose to make a wheel landing since the wind was greater than 10 knots and not directly down the runway.  The pilot continued to report that upon landing, a gust of wind was encountered and the airplane bounced.  He applied power, but the airplane bounced one more time.  He reported he then added full power to perform a go- around but the engine was vibrating from the propeller having struck the runway.  He reported, "I immediately went to idle power and attempted to lower the nose but suspect I stalled."  The airplane descended and impacted the terrain off the right side of the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N654Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N654Y-2000-07-13), registration cancelled 2000-07-13, S/N 654 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Young RV-4
- Registry model: [Young Michael E RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/young-michael-e-rv-4) (registry code 056081Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 654
- Airframe hours: 67
- Engines: Lycoming 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael E. Young
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1997, 40 hours before
- Departed: YKN, YANKTON, SD
- Destination: CMY
- Airport: CMY, Sparta-Fort Mccoy, runway 19, 4,295 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 421 total, 67 in this make and model, 421 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMY

## 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 19970801020509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970801020509A), Aug 1, 1997: Amtr RV4, Sparta, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control of aircraft on landing, crashed. (-23) see narrative #CHI97LA246

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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