# NTSB ERA25LA042: Vans RV8-A, N69LM, Cleveland, GA, November 8, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 8, 2024, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Cleveland, GA
- Coordinates: 34.561763, -83.713513 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5618&lon=-83.7135&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- 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): 195476
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195476/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA042

## Probable cause

A nose landing gear collapse on landing and subsequent nose over.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Maynard Larry D RV8-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=05627VJ), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Maynard Larry D RV8-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05627VJ), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Maynard Larry D RV8-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05627VJ), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After completing a local flight, the pilot recalled the direction of landing required a steep descent during the final approach due to tall trees at the approach end of the runway. The pilot otherwise did not recall any of the details of the accident following the short final segment of the landing approach. A witness described, and surveillance video confirmed, that the airplane touched down, experienced a “very short” bounce, and then impacted the turf runway nose landing gear first, resulting in the nose landing gear collapsing and the airplane nosing over. The airplane’s fuselage, empennage, and right wing sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69LM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N69LM), registered now, S/N 81427, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV8-A
- Registry model: [Maynard Larry D RV8-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/maynard-larry-d-rv8-a) (registry code 05627VJ) (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: 81427
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 1040
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, February 12, 2024, 47 hours before
- Airport: 0GE5, Mountain Airpark, runway N, 2,500 × 130 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,292 total, 1,040 in this make and model, 2,292 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 76 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: GVL, 18 nm away
- METAR: KGVL 081753Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/18 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP187 T02440178 10256 20194 58021

## 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 20241108021789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241108021789A), Nov 8, 2024: Maynard Larry D RV8-A, Cleveland, GA, Substantial damage. Upon landing, the fixed nose gear bent rearward causing the nose of the aircraft to hit the ground and the aircraft to flip over inverted. The pilot removed…

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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