# NTSB ERA21LA255: Page Joseph E Vans RV-4, N54RV, Martinsburg, WV, May 12, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 12, 2021, 18:07 local (22:07 UTC)
- Place: Martinsburg, WV · 39.4023568,-77.9829991
- Coordinates: 39.402357, -77.982999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4024&lon=-77.9830&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: 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): 103277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103277/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103277
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA255

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare in variable crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard 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: [Page Joseph E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05620QA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Page Joseph E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=05620QA), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/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: [Page Joseph E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05620QA), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: [Page Joseph E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05620QA), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Page Joseph E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05620QA), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after a local flight during an approach to land, he “rounded out too soon” in the landing flare, which resulted in the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall “a couple of feet above the runway.” The airplane subsequently touched down hard on the runway, the airplane skidded to a stop, and the pilot shut down the airplane and pushed it onto a taxiway. Photographs provided by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed substantial to the rear fuselage area and engine mount, in addition to a wrinkled firewall and damaged propeller. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 8 with wind reported near the accident time from 320° at 7 knots, variable from 290° to 350°.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54RV), registered now, S/N 2370, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PAGE JOSEPH E VANS RV-4 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Page Joseph E VANS RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/page-joseph-e-vans-rv-4) (registry code 05620QA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2370
- Year built: 1992
- Airframe hours: 752
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 30, 2020
- Departed: MRB, Martisburg, WV
- Airport: MRB, Eastern Wv Rgnl/Shepherd Fld, runway 08/26, 8,815 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 412 total, 5 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KMRB, 2 nm away
- METAR: SPECI KMRB 122223Z 32007KT 290V350 10SM BKN100 19/M01 A3019 RMK AO2 T01891011=

## 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 20210512008389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210512008389A), May 12, 2021: Page Joseph E VANS RV-4, Martinsburg, WV, Substantial damage. The pilot stated the his final approach was stable. Just before touchdown he rounded out the landing too high causing the aircraft to stall a few feet above…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103277. 8.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822690&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1%20Report%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822586&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.

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