# NTSB ERA15LA244: Raddatz Steve RV 8, N323RP, Monroe, NC, June 6, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 2015, 14:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Monroe, NC - Coordinates: 35.017501, -80.621948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0175&lon=-80.6219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91399 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91399/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91399 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA244 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot stated that he made a "normal" landing in the tailwheel airplane and that the airplane began to veer right. The pilot applied rudder correction, but the airplane continued to the right, departed the runway, and traveled down an embankment. Examination of the runway revealed tire skid marks from the main landing gear consistent with the airplane touching down to the right of centerline, slightly angled toward the right side of the runway. The skid marks continued right, and departed the paved surface at an approximate 90° angle. There were no skid marks from the tailwheel. The pilot later stated that when the airplane was lifted, the tailwheel was unlocked, but the investigation could not determine whether it was unlocked before the accident or during the accident sequence. The pilot noted that postaccident maintenance of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the braking system. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 2015, about 1405 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built RV8, N323RP, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway while landing at Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport (EQY), Monroe, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed but not activated. The personal flight, which originated at Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (TCL), Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91.The pilot reported that upon a "normal" touchdown on runway 5, the airplane veered to the right, departed the runway and went down an embankment. The pilot further noted that when the airplane was lifted, the tailwheel was not locked; however, no evidence was provided that the tailwheel was unlocked prior to the landing, or whether it became unlocked in the course of the accident sequence. In addition, the pilot did not state that the airplane drifted to the right after the tailwheel touched down. Photographs of skid marks consistent with the main landing gear tires showed that the airplane landed right of the runway centerline, angling toward the right, then turned further toward the right, and exited the runway about a 90° angle. The skid marks continued along the runway, and as the airplane turned, the right wheel skid marks became "chatter marks." There were no marks from the tailwheel. In a follow-up email, the pilot noted that he "applied rudder correction and that looks like where the skid marks started." He also noted, "no report of brake problems from the people that are rebuilding the airplane." Winds, recorded at the airport at 1253, were calm, at 1353, no winds were recorded, and at 1453, winds were from 040° true at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N323RP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: RADDATZ STEVE RV 8 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81238 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 561 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2015 - Departed: TCL, Tuscaloosa, AL - Destination: EQY, Monroe, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EQY, Charlotte-Monroe Executive, runway 05, 7,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: EQY ## 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 20150606008479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150606008479A), Jun 6, 2015: Raddatz Steve RV-8, Monroe, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land on runway 5 at Monroe airport (eqy). Upon touch down 6 feet right of center, the aircraft veered off to right side of runway… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91399. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Observations (item 2, .PDF, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450156&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Observations-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Excerpts, Supplemental Information (item 3, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Excerpts,%20Supplemental%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20(Courtesy%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.