# NTSB ERA15CA100: Shannon William RV6A, N32SN, Pikeville, KY, January 14, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 14, 2015, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Pikeville, KY
- Coordinates: 37.561943, -82.56639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5619&lon=-82.5664&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90601
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90601/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90601
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA100

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing, and his subsequent flight into icing conditions, which resulted in the accumulation of ice on the airframe.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Shannon William RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05611YH), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shannon William RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05611YH), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Shannon William RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=05611YH), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/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: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Shannon William RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=05611YH), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Shannon William RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05611YH), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Shannon William RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05611YH), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Shannon William RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05611YH), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Shannon William RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05611YH), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot had purchased the airplane the day prior, and was returning to his home airport when he elected to stop at an intermediate airport for fuel. After crossing the runway threshold, the pilot reduced engine power and entered the landing flare. He felt the airplane "balloon up slightly, then stall and drop around 15 feet" onto the runway. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane subsequently ran off the side of the runway, where it came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder. Photographs of the airplane taken by the airport manager following the accident depicted the presence of rime ice along the leading edges of the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that he had not obtained a weather briefing, but had conducted a cursory review of enroute weather via an online vendor prior to the flight, and was not aware of icing conditions along his intended route of flight. He also stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot had purchased the airplane the day prior, and was returning to his home airport when he elected to stop at an intermediate airport for fuel. After crossing the runway threshold, the pilot reduced engine power and entered the landing flare. He felt the airplane "balloon up slightly, then stall and drop around 15 feet" onto the runway. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane subsequently ran off the side of the runway, where it came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder. Photographs of the airplane taken by the airport manager following the accident depicted the presence of rime ice along the leading edges of the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that he had not obtained a weather briefing, but had conducted a cursory review of enroute weather via an online vendor prior to the flight, and was not aware of icing conditions along his intended route of flight. He also stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32SN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32SN-2018-06-08), registration cancelled 2018-06-08, S/N 23805, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SHANNON WILLIAM RV6A
- Registry model: [Shannon William RV6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/shannon-william-rv6a) (registry code 05611YH) (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: 23805
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 732
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Norm Cyr Aircraft Sales LLC
- Registered owner: Norm Cyr Aircraft Sales LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, January 1, 2015, 6 hours before
- Departed: FSO, HIGHGATE, VT
- Destination: M91, SPRINGFIELD, TN
- Airport: PBX, Pike County-Hatcher Field, runway 27, 5,356 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 8, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 172 total, 7 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Icing: Rime
- Observed at: PBX

## 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 20150114000949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150114000949A), Jan 14, 2015: Shannon William RV6A, Pikeville, KY, Substantial damage. On 01-14-15, an RV6 experimental aircraft, N32SN, departed franklin county airport, Vermont (kfso) for an ultimate destination of phoenix, AZ (deer valley…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90601. 11.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 932 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Correspondence with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record, FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record,%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 679 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Photograph of Main Wreckage at Accident Site (Photo Courtesy of Airport Manager) (item 6, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422565&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Photograph%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Manager)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Photograph of Main Wreckage at Accident Site (Photo Courtesy of Airport Manager) (item 7, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Photograph%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Manager)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Photograph of Airplane in Hangar (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Photograph%20of%20Airplane%20in%20Hangar%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.