# NTSB ERA23LA242: Gary R Brearley RV-9A, N105GS, Kingston, TN, May 19, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 19, 2023, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Kingston, TN
- Coordinates: 35.802402, -84.417663 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8024&lon=-84.4177&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- 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): 192233
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192233/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192233
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA242

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a nose over.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gary R Brearley VANS AIRCRAFT RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05633ZG), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gary R Brearley VANS AIRCRAFT RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05633ZG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Gary R Brearley VANS AIRCRAFT RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05633ZG), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Gary R Brearley VANS AIRCRAFT RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05633ZG), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane bounced upon landing and the nose landing gear impacted the turf runway. Subsequently, the nose landing gear dug into the runway and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N105GS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N105GS-2024-07-23), registration cancelled 2024-07-23, S/N 91280, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GARY R BREARLEY RV-9A (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Gary R Brearley VANS AIRCRAFT RV9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gary-r-brearley-vans-aircraft-rv9a) (registry code 05633ZG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b1a) (registry code 42135, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 91280
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 222.7
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 1, 2022
- Departed: TN44, Lafollette, TN
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 2TN7, Wolf Creek, runway 23, 2,400 × 60 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 670 total, 170 in this make and model, 670 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 21 nm away
- METAR: KTYS 191853Z 28006KT 10SM FEW050 FEW250 26/15 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP181 T02560150

## 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 20230519005969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230519005969A), May 19, 2023: Vans Aircraft RV9, Kingston, TN, Substantial damage. On the 05/19/2023, at approximately 23:00Z, the pilot reported the following: “Upon landing 2TN7 nose gear dug into the ground and flipped the aircraft.…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192233. 2.3 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=15609594&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15610280&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA23LA242-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.