# NTSB ERA24LA381: Walden Robert Vans Aircraft RV-7A, N65RW, Williamsburg, VA, September 13, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 13, 2024, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Williamsburg, VA · On Airport - Coordinates: 37, -76 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0000&lon=-76.0000&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: 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): 195130 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195130/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195130 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA381 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to continue with an unstabilized approach which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control during a subsequent landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05629J3), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05629J3), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05629J3), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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: [Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05629J3), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05629J3), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05629J3), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05629J3), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land on a 60-ft-wide runway with a 10 to 15 knot left crosswind. He described that he was too high on the approach and made an aggressive right-wing low forward slip to lose altitude. While transitioning to complete the crosswind landing, the pilot misjudged his height above the runway and landed hard, damaging the nose landing gear. The airplane began to veer off the runway and the pilot aborted the landing. On the next landing, when the damaged nose landing gear touched down, the airplane veered off the runway, impacted a trench, and nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. Following the accident, the pilot stated that he should have gone around on the first landing attempt since he was not stabilized on the approach. He also reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65RW-2025-04-21), registration cancelled 2025-04-21, S/N 72204, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WALDEN ROBERT VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A - Registry model: [Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/walden-robert-vans-aircraft-rv-7a) (registry code 05629J3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Mattituck TMX IO-390](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mattituck-tmx-io-390) (registry code 59605, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 72204 - Year built: 2012 - Engines: Lycoming/MATTITUCK TMX IO-390 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: FFC, Peachtree, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JGG, Williamsburg/Jamestown, runway 13/31, 3,204 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 29, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 22,000 total, 1,600 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KJGG, 37 nm away - METAR: METAR KJGG 132035Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM SCT024 OVC220 26/21 A3014 ## 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 20240913013069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240913013069A), Sep 13, 2024: Walden Robert VANS AIRCRAFT RV-7A, Williamsburg, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot's late crosswind inputs on narrow RW13 (60’ wide) resulted in hard landing with nose gear leg damage & go around. The second landing resulted in aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195130. 578 KB in all. - Memorandum for record - pilot interview summary (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17822718&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 503 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17747314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.