# NTSB ERA22LA232: Justice Frank K Vans RV-6A, N7FJ, Hendersonville, NC, May 9, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 9, 2022, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Hendersonville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.306323, -82.430966 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3063&lon=-82.4310&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 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): 105108
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA232
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105108/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105108
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA232

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to go-around during an unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing, runway excursion, and nose over.

## 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: [Justice Frank K VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05602Q8), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Justice Frank K VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05602Q8), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Justice Frank K VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05602Q8), [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: [Justice Frank K VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05602Q8), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that following a normal approach to landing, about 20 ft above the runway he encountered a “slight tail wind.” He reported that at this point, “I should have gone around” but he believed the landing was salvageable. Subsequently, the airplane touched down hard, and he maneuvered the airplane off the runway into grass where the airplane nosed over. The empennage and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7FJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7FJ-2024-06-15), registration cancelled 2024-06-15, S/N 22226, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JUSTICE FRANK K VANS RV-6A (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Justice Frank K VANS RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/justice-frank-k-vans-rv-6a) (registry code 05602Q8) (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: 22226
- Year built: 1997
- Airframe hours: 1602
- Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed: LKR, Lancaster, SC
- Destination: 0A7, Hendersonville, NC
- Airport: 0A7, Hendersonville Airport, runway 33, 3,075 × 40 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,020 total, 25 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 9 nm away
- METAR: METAR KAVL 091554Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 13/07 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP223 T01330072=

## 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 20220509006739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220509006739A), May 9, 2022: Justice Frank K VANS RV-6A, Hendersonville, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was coming in to land runway 33, had completed landing checklist, everything checked ok. When approximately 15 to 20 ? Off runway felt as if he…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105108. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14642655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1_Redacted2-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14642501&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%20ERA22LA232-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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