# NTSB ERA23LA187: Lewis/Urmston RV 4 200, N8DU, Cedar Key, FL, April 7, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 7, 2023, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Cedar Key, FL
- Coordinates: 29.134222, -83.050472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1342&lon=-83.0505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- 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): 107029
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA187
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107029/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA187

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for gusting wind conditions while landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Lewis/Urmston RV 4 200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05608AW), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lewis/Urmston RV 4 200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05608AW), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Lewis/Urmston RV 4 200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05608AW), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Lewis/Urmston RV 4 200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05608AW), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport and conducted a “stabilized” approach until just prior to touchdown, when the airplane experienced “mechanical turbulence which destabilized the approach.” The pilot initiated a go-around when a wind gust “lifted the right wing.” The airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck trees 100 ft left of the landing surface. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8DU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8DU), registered now, S/N 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEWIS/URMSTON RV 4 200
- Registry model: [Lewis/Urmston RV 4 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/lewis-urmston-rv-4-200) (registry code 05608AW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1960
- Year built: 1989
- Airframe hours: 785
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tingstrom Grant
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, November 6, 2022, 15 hours before
- Departed: ORL, Orlando, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CDK, George T Lewis, runway 23, 2,355 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 502 total, 188 in this make and model, 458 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: CTY, 25 nm away
- METAR: METAR KCTY 072155Z AUTO 27009KT 10SM SCT090 28/20 A3007 RMK AO2=

## 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 20230407006539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230407006539A), Apr 7, 2023: Lewis/Urmston RV 4 200, Cedar Key, FL, Destroyed. Aircraft during landing porpoised on runway and struck trees.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107029. 5.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15840603&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Nonsecure%20Copiable%20Tingstrom%20Filled_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Docket photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15839547&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA187%20Docket%20Photo%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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