# NTSB ERA16CA290: Kessinger Roger L Rans Coyote, N910RK, London, KY, August 12, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 12, 2016, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: London, KY - Coordinates: 37.087776, -84.075279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0878&lon=-84.0753&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93831 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16CA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93831/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93831 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA290 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during an attempted go-around. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kessinger Roger L RANS COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05904L5), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Kessinger Roger L RANS COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05904L5), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Kessinger Roger L RANS COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05904L5), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Kessinger Roger L RANS COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05904L5), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Kessinger Roger L RANS COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05904L5), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis After a 1-hour local flight during which he familiarized himself with the airplane's stall characteristics, the student pilot/owner of the experimental light sport airplane returned to his home airport to practice touch-and-go landings. The airplane bounced during the final landing attempt, and while recovering, the student applied full power to the engine for a go-around. The student stated that the airplane then banked to the right due to the engine's counter-clockwise rotation "p factor effect" and began heading toward a hangar located off the right side of the runway. Due to the airplane's low altitude and airspeed, the student chose to continue the right turn to avoid colliding with the hangar, and once clear of it, tried to climb the airplane to clear an approaching tree line; however, the airplane's right wing struck one of the trees. The airplane then impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and serious injuries to the pilot. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. He attributed the loss of control during the go-around attempt to his unfamiliarity with the flight characteristics of the counter-clockwise rotation of the airplane's two-stroke engine and his lack of flight experience in experimental light sport airplanes. ## Factual narrative After a 1 hour local flight where he explored the airplane's stall characteristics, the student pilot/owner of the experimental light sport airplane returned to his home airport to practice touch-and-go landings. The pilot "bounced" the airplane during the final landing attempt, and while recovering applied full power to the engine for a go around. The pilot stated that the airplane then banked to the right as a result of the counterclockwise rotating-engine's "p factor effect," and began heading toward a hangar located off the right side of the runway. Due to the airplane's low altitude and airspeed, the pilot elected to continue the right turn to avoid colliding with the hangar, and once clear of it, tried to climb the airplane to clear an approaching tree line. The pilot was unsuccessful in this attempt and the airplane's right wing struck one of the trees. The airplane then impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe and seriously injuring the pilot.The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or its engine that would have precluded normal operation. He further attributed the loss of control during the go around attempt to his unfamiliarity with the flight characteristics of the counter clockwise rotation of the airplane's two-stroke engine, and his lack of flight experience in experimental light sport airplanes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N910RK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N910RK-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 296, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KESSINGER ROGER L RANS COYOTE (SUPERSIX) - Registry model: [Kessinger Roger L RANS COYOTE](https://openairdocs.org/model/kessinger-roger-l-rans-coyote) (registry code 05904L5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 296 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 36.9 - Engines: ROTAX 503 DCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: LOZ, London, KY - Destination: LOZ, London, KY - Airport: LOZ, London-Corbin Arpt-Magee Field, runway 24, 5,751 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 78; injuries: serious; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 287 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KLOZ ## 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 20160812014269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160812014269A), Aug 12, 2016: Kessinger Roger L RANS COYOTE, London, KY, Substantial damage. Witnesses state that the plane attempted to land, bounced, and started heading toward the Kentucky national guard joint readiness center. The plane then lifted… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93831. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 464 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 918 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.