# NTSB ERA20CA233: Vans RV 8, N408RV, Perkasie, PA, June 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 29, 2020, 13:56 local (17:56 UTC) - Place: Perkasie, PA - Coordinates: 40.389167, -75.291389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3892&lon=-75.2914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101514/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101514 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA233 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a ditch. ## 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: [S2rv RV 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056232N), [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: [S2rv RV 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056232N), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [S2rv RV 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056232N), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [S2rv RV 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056232N), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [S2rv RV 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056232N), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [S2rv RV 8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056232N), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in turbulent and gusty crosswind conditions. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and then veered left. The pilot attempted to control the airplane, but it continued left off the runway. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch and the left main landing gear separated before the airplane came to a stop. The fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N408RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N408RV), registered now, S/N 81144 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV 8 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [S2rv RV 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/s2rv-rv-8) (registry code 056232N) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81144 - Engines: reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: N87, Robbinsville, NJ - Destination: CKZ, Perkasie, PA - Airport: CKZ, Pennridge, runway 08, 4,211 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 12,925 total, 9,999 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KCKZ, 5 nm away ## 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 20200629010759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200629010759A), Jun 29, 2020: S2rv Inc RV 8, Perkasie, PA, Substantial damage. After accomplishing a previous pass to observe conditions, pilot made a second approach to runway 08. Pilot observed more turbulence than on previous pass, and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101514. 15.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - memo for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10122515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20No%206120-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9923579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 13.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11393645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.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.