# NTSB FTW97LA283: Wonder RV-6, N443MW, Franktown, CO, July 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1997, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Franktown, CO - Coordinates: 39.380325, -104.749328 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3803&lon=-104.7493&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20294/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA283 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing roll. A factor was the uneven runway surface. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During landing roll, at a private grass air strip, a bump was encountered and the nose of the aircraft pitched down. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted causing damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1997, at 1000 mountain daylight time, a Wonder RV-6, N443MW, nosed over during landing roll at Kostroski Field (43CO), a private airport, 5 miles east of Franktown, Colorado. The airline transport certificated pilot, sole occupant, was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, at 0948. After over flying the field of intended landing to check the field and wind, the pilot said she performed a wheel landing using 20 degrees of flaps and a speed of 75 miles per hour. According to her statement, during landing roll, with the tail wheel still in the air, a bump was encountered on the runway and the aircraft nosed over causing substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N443MW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N443MW), registered now, S/N 21057 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WONDER RV-6 - Registry model: [Wonder Michael S RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/wonder-michael-s-rv-6) (registry code 05608PG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 21057 - Airframe hours: 416 - Engines: Lycoming O-360A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lois D. Kowalski - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 1997, 51 hours before - Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO - Airport: 43CO, Kostroski, runway 27, 2,700 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,541 total, 80 in this make and model, 3,404 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: APA, 10 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 19970727047279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970727047279A), Jul 27, 1997: Amtr RV6, Franktown, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot reported that upon landing at private airport, with grass runway, aircraft encountered series of bumps on runway and nosed over. On 12/29/95,… ## Other investigations on N443MW (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL94LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA027), Dec 7, 1993: Wonder VAN'S Acft RV-6 (N443MW), Ridgeland, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE MAGNETOS BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH ALLOWED THE RIGHT MAGNETO TO COME LOOSE, OIL TO ESCAPE FROM THE ENGINE, AND SUBSEQUENT OIL STARVATION. 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.