# NTSB ERA24LA039: Gaulden William D Vans RV-4, N2606A, London, KY, November 7, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 7, 2023, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: London, KY · London Corbin Airport (KLOV) Runway 6/24 - Coordinates: 37.086889, -84.077389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0869&lon=-84.0774&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - 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): 193392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193392/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193392 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA039 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent application of nose down pitch trim during the attempted aborted landing, which resulted in abnormal contact with the runway. ## 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: [Gaulden William D VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05621Z6), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gaulden William D VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05621Z6), [All aircraft, 528 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Gaulden William D VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05621Z6), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot purchased the airplane the day prior to the accident. During the landing at the destination airport, the airplane bounced, and the pilot intended to abort the landing; however, he accidentally advanced the elevator trim lever, rather than the throttle lever (which were similarly positioned and shaped). The airplane subsequently touched down a second time nose-low, resulting in damage to the main landing gear and propeller. Several fuselage tubes were also substantially damaged during the landing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2606A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2606A), registered now, S/N 3270, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GAULDEN WILLIAM D VANS RV-4 - Registry model: [Gaulden William D VANS RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/gaulden-william-d-vans-rv-4) (registry code 05621Z6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3270 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 225 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 4, 2023, 5 hours before - Departed: KMTV, Martinsville, VA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LOZ, London/Corbin/Magee, runway 06/24, 5,751 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,566 total, 5.6 in this make and model, 1,475 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: LOZ - METAR: KLOZ 072153Z AUTO 27010KT 10SM CLR 23/12 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP141 T02280117 ## 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 20231107022099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231107022099A), Nov 7, 2023: Gaulden William D VANS RV-4, London, KY, Substantial damage. Flight originated on November 07, 2023 at kesn to kmtv and then continued from kmtv for kloz. At approximately 5 p.m. local time radio calls were made for… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193392. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16394845&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16394928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA wreckage exam (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16394574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 6 photos, 765 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16394684&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-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.