# NTSB FTW04LA188: Mattie RV-4, N464WB, El Reno, OK, July 18, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2004, 15:27 local (20:27 UTC) - Place: El Reno, OK - Coordinates: 35.472499, -98.005554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4725&lon=-98.0056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59670 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59670/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA188 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis Upon reaching the airport, the 524-hour pilot elected to land to the north, due to the fact that "the winds were calm." After "slipping" the airplane to get on the proper glide slope, the pilot stated that he touched down within the first few hundred feet of the runway, had a "slight bounce," and added power to correct it. The airplane started to veer left so the pilot increased right rudder, with no effect. The pilot continued to add right rudder to the point that he over-corrected and the airplane began veering to the right. The airplane exited the paved surface of the 75-feet wide runway, and the pilot added power to try to execute a go-around. The pilot noted that "due to the high density altitude, high gross weight, and aft center of gravity," the go-around had little effect. The airplane proceeded across the taxiway and back onto the runway "where the right landing gear collapsed due to the high side load." ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2004, at 1527 central daylight time, a Mattie RV-4 single-engine homebuilt airplane, N464WB, was substantially damaged following a loss of control landing at El Reno Municipal Airpark (F28), near El Reno, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and one passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight departed Twin Lakes Airport (2OK2), near Midwest City, Oklahoma, approximately 1500, with F28 as its intended destination. The 524-hour pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that upon reaching F28, he elected to land to the north, due to the fact that "the winds were calm." After "slipping" the airplane to get on the proper glide slope, the pilot stated that the airplane touched down within the first few hundred feet of the runway, had a "slight bounce," and he added power to correct it. The airplane started to veer left so the pilot increased right rudder, with no effect. The pilot continued to add right rudder to the point that he over-corrected and the airplane began veering to the right. The airplane exited the paved surface of the runway, and the pilot added power to try to execute a go-around. The pilot noted that "due to the high density altitude, high gross weight, and aft center of gravity," the go-around had little effect. The airplane proceeded across the taxiway and back onto the runway "where the right landing gear collapsed due to the high side load." According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, the aircraft was landing to the north at F28 on runway 35 (a 5,600 foot long and 75 foot wide concrete grooved runway). Upon touchdown, the airplane veered off the runway and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest on an approximate heading of 270 degrees. The pilot reported structural damage to the right main landing gear attach point. At 1453, the automated surface observing system at Wiley Post Airport (PWA), located approximately 18 miles east of F28, reports winds from 030 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, a temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 64 degrees Fahrenheit, with a barometric pressure reading of 30.00 inches of Mercury. The field elevation was 1,417 feet mean sea level. The density altitude was calculated by the investigator-in-charge at 3,575 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N464WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N464WB), registered now, S/N 3931 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mattie RV-4 - Registry model: [Mattie William C RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/mattie-william-c-rv-4) (registry code 05605MF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3931 - Airframe hours: 214.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy A. Gamble - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2003, 117.3 hours before - Departed: 2OK2, Midwest City, OK - Destination: F28, El Reno, OK - Airport: F28, El Reno Municipal Airpark, runway 35, 5,600 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 3, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 524 total, 121 in this make and model, 440 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PWA, 18 nm away ## 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 20040718015169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040718015169A), Jul 18, 2004: Amtr RV4, El Reno, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that shortly after touchdown on runway 35 he lost directional control and the aircraft departed the right side of the runway. 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.