# NTSB DFW07CA200: Vans RV-7A, N729CM, Vernon, TX, September 16, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 16, 2007, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Vernon, TX - Coordinates: 34.231666, -99.278892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2317&lon=-99.2789&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Worth, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 66675 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66675/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA200 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing. A contributing factor was the prevailing tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 603-hour private pilot lost control of the homebuilt airplane while landing with a tailwind. The pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, stated on the NTSB form 6120.1 (Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report) that during her first attempt to land, she "was getting strong wind gusts and about the time she flared the airplane, a strong wind gust shot me 50 feet in the air." The pilot then applied power and regained runway alignment and came around for a second landing attempt on Runway 02. The pilot reported that her second landing attempt resulted in a hard landing. When the nose gear contacted the ground the pilot encountered "a bad shimmy and when it settled I knew I did not have control of the airplane." Following the loss of control, the airplane was reported to have turned sharply to the right, nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. The wind at the time of the mishap was reported from 200 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot added that she had noted during Unicom radio traffic that the landing traffic was to Runway 20 and she mistakenly landed to Runway 02. ## Factual narrative The 603-hour private pilot lost control of the homebuilt airplane while landing with a tailwind. The pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, stated on the NTSB form 6120.1 (Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report) that during her first attempt to land, she "was getting strong wind gusts and about the time she flared the airplane, a strong wind gust shot me 50 feet in the air." The pilot then applied power and regained runway alignment and came around for a second landing attempt on Runway 02. The pilot reported that her second landing attempt resulted in a hard landing. When the nose gear contacted the ground the pilot encountered "a bad shimmy and when it settled I knew I did not have control of the airplane." Following the loss of control, the airplane was reported to have turned sharply to the right, nosed-over and came to rest in the inverted position. The wind at the time of the mishap was reported from 200 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot added that she had noted during Unicom radio traffic that the landing traffic was to Runway 20 and she mistakenly landed to Runway 02. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N729CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N729CM-2008-07-02), registration cancelled 2008-07-02, S/N 71712, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV-7A - Registry model: [Morris Carol Craig RV7-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/morris-carol-craig-rv7-a) (registry code 05619SJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 71712 - Airframe hours: 225 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KBJC, Denver, CO - Destination: T67, Fort Worth, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: F05, Wilbarger County Airport, runway 02, 5,099 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 603 total, 201 in this make and model, 478 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KFDR ## 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 20070916018499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070916018499A), Sep 16, 2007: Amtr RV7A, Vernon, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) PIC landed midway down on a 5000 foot long runway with a tail wind and failed to control the aircraft at the end of the runway. 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.