# NTSB FTW04CA161: Ruehle Glastar, N106WR, Lancaster, TX, June 12, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 11, 2004, 19:45 local (Jun 12, 2004, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, TX - Coordinates: 32.579166, -96.718887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5792&lon=-96.7189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Dallas, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 59441 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04CA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59441/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA161 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command ## Analysis The 3,220-hour pilot reported that the nose gear collapsed during a hard landing on runway 13. The nose landing gear collapsed and the nose of the airplane impacted the runway. Runway 13 was reported as a 5,000-foot long by 100-foot wide asphalt runway. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2004, at 1945 central daylight time, an amateur-built Ruehle Glastar single-engine airplane, N106WR, was substantially damaged during the landing roll following a hard landing at the Lancaster Airport (LNC), near Lancaster, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditioned prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from LNC at 1805. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the site of the accident, the 3,220-hour pilot was performing his fourth landing on runway 13 (a 5,000-foot long by 100-foot wide asphalt runway) for the day. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he "slammed it [the airplane] down on the runway pretty hard on the main landing gears quickly followed by the nose gear." Subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed and the nose of the airplane impacted the runway surface. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the tubular frame of the airplane was fractured in three places near the nose gear attach point. The 3-bladed composite propeller was destroyed. The nose gear remained attached and was bent aft. The left wingtip was cracked. A completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report) was not received from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N106WR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N106WR-2012-10-24), registration cancelled 2012-10-24, S/N 5181 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ruehle Glastar - Registry model: [Ruehle William H GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ruehle-william-h-glastar) (registry code 05606WR) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5181 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: Subaru CF4-20T reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William H. Ruehle - Registered owner: William H. Ruehle - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 11, 2004, 1.6 hours before - Departed: Lancaster, TX - Airport: LNC, Lancaster Airport, runway 13, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,220 total, 120 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: LNC ## 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 20040611015119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040611015119A), Jun 11, 2004: Amtr GLASTAR, Lancaster, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 11, 2004 @ 1945 CST, a ruehle williams h., Glastar, N106WR suffered a nose gear collapse during landing on runway 13 at the Lancaster Airport in… 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.