# NTSB ERA21LA158: Vashon Ranger R7, N150VR, Hampton, GA, March 4, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 4, 2021, 16:10 UTC - Place: Hampton, GA - Coordinates: 33.3899, -84.331033 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3899&lon=-84.3310&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 102777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102777/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102777 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA158 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper flare while landing with a gusting crosswind which resulted in a hard landing and separation of the left landing gear. ## 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: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001BU), [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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=06001BU), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=06001BU), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=06001BU), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=06001BU), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was landing at the conclusion of his first solo cross-country flight with a 6 knot crosswind gusting to 14 knots. He aborted two attempts to land and was on his third landing attempt when he “flared too early and had a hard landing,” which resulted in the separation of the airplane’s left main landing gear. The student pilot subsequently landed on the two remaining landing gear, and the airplane departed the runway’s left side and came to rest upright with substantial damage to the fuselage, wing, and horizontal stabilizer. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N150VR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N150VR), registered now, S/N 10142, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VASHON AIRCRAFT RANGER R7 - Registry model: [Vashon RANGER R7](https://openairdocs.org/model/vashon-ranger-r7) (registry code 06001BU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-d) (registry code 17409, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10142 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 162.5 - Engines: Continental O-200 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Happy Goat Flying Club - Registered owner: Fink Glen David - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2020 - Departed: ACJ, Americus, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HMP, Atlanta Speedway, runway 06/24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 13 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KHMP ## 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 20210304014799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210304014799A), Mar 4, 2021: Vashon Aircraft RANGER R7, Hampton, GA, Substantial damage. On March 04, 2021, approximately 11:00AM, pilot attempted to land on runway 06 at Henry County Airport (hmp), located in Hampton, Georgia 30228. Just before… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102777. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 memo for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12134114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12134118&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N150VR_Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12133493&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Kelvin%20Mason%20Student%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12134468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12134282&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.