# NTSB ERA25LA090: Hinson Melvin J Velocity, N160MH, Norfolk, VA, January 5, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 5, 2025, 15:26 local (20:26 UTC)
- Place: Norfolk, VA · RWY 23, slid off the side onto a taxiway
- Coordinates: 36.900147, -76.194718 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9001&lon=-76.1947&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 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): 199507
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199507/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199507
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA090

## Probable cause

A landing gear collapse during landing in gusty crosswind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hinson Melvin J VELOCITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=056011R), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hinson Melvin J VELOCITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=056011R), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hinson Melvin J VELOCITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056011R), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Hinson Melvin J VELOCITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056011R), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

At the conclusion of an uneventful cross-country flight, the pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport and extended the airplane’s landing gear. He then observed a normal “down and locked” indication on the airplane’s avionics and continued the landing approach. The pilot described that the wind was coming from the right during the approach, with a reported velocity of about 6 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Shortly after touching down on the runway, the pilot described that there was an abnormal vibration, after which he lost directional control of the airplane. He responded by applying full rudder and brake in an attempt to counter the crosswind. The airplane continued in an uncontrolled slide and drifted left until it came to rest at the left edge of the runway. The airplane’s main landing gear collapsed during the accident sequence and the lower aft and left side of the fuselage were substantially damaged. Additionally, the nose landing gear’s wheel separated at the fork during the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the landing gear extension/retraction system revealed that it operated normally.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N160MH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N160MH), registered now, S/N DMO-302 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HINSON MELVIN J VELOCITY
- Registry model: [Hinson Melvin J VELOCITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/hinson-melvin-j-velocity) (registry code 056011R) (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: DMO-302
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 813.9
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-EXP 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, December 17, 2024, 12 hours before
- Departed: FMY, Fort Meyers, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ORF, Norfolk Intl, runway 23, 9,001 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,507 total, 256 in this make and model, 2,106 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: ORF
- METAR: KORF 051951Z 30006G18KT 10SM CLR 07/M16 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP211 T00671161

## 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 20250105000539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250105000539A), Jan 5, 2025: Hinson Melvin J VELOCITY, Norfolk, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated, prior to landing, he extended the landing gear and confirmed the gear was down and locked as indicated in the garmin G3X system. After…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199507. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18225858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20mcclure12_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18225767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement, landing gear examination (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18318575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N160MH%20Accident%20MEMO%20Signed-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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