# NTSB ERA22LA339: Vulcanair V1, N979DS, Salisbury, MD, July 22, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 22, 2022, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Salisbury, MD
- Coordinates: 38.340189, -75.509478
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3402&lon=-75.5095&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): 105590
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA339
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105590/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105590
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA339

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper flare, 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: [Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6780115), [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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=6780115), [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: [Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=6780115), [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: [Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=6780115), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that he was completing his first solo cross-country flight. At the destination airport, he performed one go-around because the airplane was too high. He performed a second go-around as the airplane was not aligned with the runway. During the third attempt, he flared too high. The airplane subsequently landed hard and bounced four times before coming to rest on the runway. The student pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it was substantially damaged due to two fractured engine mounts. Damage to the nosegear and propeller was also observed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N979DS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N979DS), registered now, S/N 1024, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VULCANAIR V1 (0)
- Registry model: [Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0](https://openairdocs.org/model/vulcanair-s-p-a-vulcanair-v1-0) (registry code 6780115) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-M1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1a) (registry code 40891, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1024
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 430
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Delaware State University
- Registered owner: Delaware State University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2022, 37 hours before
- Departed: 33N, Cheswold, DE
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SBY, Salisbury Regional Airport, runway 23, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 28 total, 25 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KSBY
- METAR: METAR KSBY 221954Z 25011G15KT 10SM CLR 33/22 A2994

## 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 20220722007119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220722007119A), Jul 22, 2022: Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0, Salisbury, MD, Substantial damage. Event occurred during a leg of a student solo cross country; pilot "porpoised" the landing, impacted the propeller, and collapsed the nose landing gear.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105590. 1.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14276414&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14276553&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 399 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14276314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Weather report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14275461&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-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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