# NTSB ERA13CA008: Sanders Ben G III DR-107, N63071, Warrenton, VA, October 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 3, 2012, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Warrenton, VA - Coordinates: 38.584999, -77.70639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5850&lon=-77.7064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85261/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85261 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in an undershoot of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/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: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he landed short and the left wheel collided with the elevated edge of the runway threshold. During the accident sequence, the airplane's left wheel separated from the landing gear axle and punctured the left wing spar and rib, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that they landed short and the left wheel collided with the elevated edge of the runway threshold. During the accident sequence, the airplane's left gear wheel broke off of the landing gear axle and punctured the left wing spar and rib. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N63071 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SANDERS BEN G III DR-107 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 94-0067 - Airframe hours: 220 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 13, 2012 - Departed: HWY, Warrenton, VA - Destination: HWY, Warrenton, VA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: HWY, Warrenton-Fauquier Airport, runway 15, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 260 total, 0 in this make and model, 217 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: HWY ## 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 20121003022479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121003022479A), Oct 3, 2012: Sanders Ben G III DR-107, Midland, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot was new to aircraft and was doing a practice landing when she failed to flare enough to clear the end of the runway and caught the runway edge concrete… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85261. 10.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 694 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-FAA photo-left wing damage (item 2, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380288&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-FAA%20photo-left%20wing%20damage-Master.PDF - Photo 2-FAA photo-Front view of airplane (item 3, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380290&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-FAA%20photo-Front%20view%20of%20airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 3-FAA photo-rear view of wing (item 4, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380291&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-FAA%20photo-rear%20view%20of%20wing-Master.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.