# NTSB ERA25LA191: Vans RV-12, N4754, Chesterfield, VA, March 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 28, 2025, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Chesterfield, VA - Coordinates: 37.407003, -77.52468 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4070&lon=-77.5247&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 200085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200085/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA191 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and the collapse of the nose landing gear. ## 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: [Vans RV-12, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Vans RV-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: [Vans RV-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Vans RV-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Vans RV-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern and reported that he was slightly high on final approach and added power to reach the runway threshold. As he began the flare, a gust of wind struck the airplane and it yawed to the right. He applied left rudder to correct, but the descent rate remained high, and the airplane touched down hard on the right main landing gear and bounced. After regaining control, he completed the landing. During the landing rollout, he described feeling a vibration and hearing a scraping noise, which led him to believe the nose landing gear had collapsed. The airplane subsequently came to reset and a postimpact fire ignited inside the engine cowling. Airport personnel extinguished the fire shortly thereafter. The airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane’s flight controls that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4754](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4754), registered now, S/N 120531, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12 - Registry model: [Vans RV-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12) (registry code 060009Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 120531 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 236 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 17, 2023, 3 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FCI, Richmond Exec/Chesterfield County, runway 15, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 16, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 284 total, 164 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 13 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: FCI, 1 nm away - METAR: KFCI 281956Z AUTO 19013G17KT 10SM CLR 25/06 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP219 T02500056 ## 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 20250328009909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250328009909A), Mar 28, 2025: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12, Chesterfield, VA, Substantial damage. The plane, which hadn't flown in several months, launched from runway 15 on his first takeoff, flew the traffic pattern, and was making his first landing. The… 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.