# NTSB ERA21LA120: Rivers Lindsey Lee Vans RV6A, N9136R, O'Brien, FL, January 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 29, 2021, 14:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: O'Brien, FL - Coordinates: 30.048, -82.984 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0480&lon=-82.9840&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - 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): 102574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102574/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102574 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA120 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s improper soft field landing technique while landing on a turf runway, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rivers Lindsey Lee VANS RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05610XG), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rivers Lindsey Lee VANS RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05610XG), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Rivers Lindsey Lee VANS RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05610XG), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the owner of the experimental amateur-built airplane, a (light sport) flight instructor was providing transition training to him after he had recently purchased the airplane. The owner and flight instructor flew from where the airplane was based, an airport with a turf runway that was 2,400 ft-long and 100 ft-wide, to a nearby airport with a paved runway and performed several practice takeoffs and landings. They then returned to the departure airport, and the flight instructor was demonstrating a landing to the turf runway for the airplane owner. The flight instructor described that he landed the airplane about 850 feet beyond the runway threshold, and that it rolled an additional 650 feet before the nosewheel touched down. Within 40 feet of the nosewheel touching the runway, the airplane suddenly nosed over. The airplane’s vertical stabilizer was substantially damaged. The owner, and another witness to the accident, both described that following the accident they observed two ground scars on the runway that were 14 and 21 feet in length, that reached a depth of 5 inches and 12 inches, respectively. The second 12-inch-deep scar ended just before the airplane nosed over and came to rest. Given this information, it is likely that the flight instructor’s improper soft-field landing technique resulted in excessive weight being placed on the nose landing gear during the landing, resulting the nosewheel digging into the turf runway, and ultimately resulting in the nose over during the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9136R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9136R), registered now, S/N 23389, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RIVERS LINDSEY LEE VANS RV6A - Registry model: [Rivers Lindsey Lee VANS RV6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rivers-lindsey-lee-vans-rv6a) (registry code 05610XG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23389 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 396 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Winsors Pollitos Farm LLC - Registered owner: Winsors Pollitos Farm LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 20, 2020, 22 hours before - Departed: 24J, Live Oak, FL - Destination: FD71, O'Brien, FL - Airport: FD71, O'Brien Airpark East/West, runway 18/36, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 73; injuries: minor; private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review October 1, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 950 total, 350 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 100 total, 100 in this make and model, 32 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 65 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: 24J, 16 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 20210129003279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210129003279A), Jan 29, 2021: Rivers Lindsey Lee VANS RV6A, O'Brien, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot stated he was finalizing downwind for FD71 west to land on 36 and he entered final with flaps extended and he touched down on the mains. On rollout… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102574. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (owner) (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12015071&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20w%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 co-pilot (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12015571&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Completed%20R9136R_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 600 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12031681&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20statement%20Landing%20accident%2029%20Jan%202021_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12016021&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20observation%20LA120-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12015561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA120-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.