# NTSB GAA15CA091: Lefever Paul M RV12, N198PR, Caledonia, MO, May 23, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2015, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Caledonia, MO - Coordinates: 37.79861, -90.770553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7986&lon=-90.7706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91247/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91247 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA091 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lefever Paul M RV12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05630S1), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Lefever Paul M RV12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=05630S1), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Lefever Paul M RV12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=05630S1), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Lefever Paul M RV12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05630S1), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Lefever Paul M RV12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=05630S1), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Approach: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Lefever Paul M RV12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05630S1), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Lefever Paul M RV12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05630S1), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis In an email sent to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector by the pilot, he reported that he was unable to manipulate the fuel station pumps where he had landed, so he decided to fly to another airfield that was about 20 miles away. The pilot wrote that somehow he did not make the right turn and became "lost". After noticing that his fuel level was low, he decided to make an off airport precautionary landing. The pilot reported that during the landing, the airplane's nose wheel caught "heavy grass" and nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. ## Factual narrative In an email sent to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector by the pilot, he reported that he was unable to manipulate the fuel station pumps where he had landed, so he decided to fly to another airfield that was about 20 miles away. The pilot wrote that somehow he did not make the right turn and became "lost". After noticing that his fuel level was low, he decided to make an off airport precautionary landing. The pilot reported that during the landing, the airplane's nose wheel caught "heavy grass" and nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Due to the pilot's failure to cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, it is unknown if there were any pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. After multiple requests, the pilot did not return the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N198PR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N198PR-2018-03-21), registration cancelled 2018-03-21, S/N 120048, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LEFEVER PAUL M RV12 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Lefever Paul M RV12](https://openairdocs.org/model/lefever-paul-m-rv12) (registry code 05630S1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-235-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-235-c) (registry code 42397, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 120048 - Year built: 2011 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lefever Paul M - Registered owner: Lefever Paul M - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: H88, FREDERICKTOWN, MO - Destination: Farmington, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; flight hours: 2,000 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KFAM, 16 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 20150523007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150523007939A), May 23, 2015: Vans RV12, Caledonia, MO, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Departed fredericktown airport (H88) around 1100 for a recreational flight to farmington, MO. He stated that around 1130 he realized he… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91247. 350 KB in all. - Record of Email from Pilot to FAA (courtesy of the FAA) (item 1, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20from%20Pilot%20to%20FAA%20(courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-View of firewall damage (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-View%20of%20firewall%20damage%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)%20-Master.PDF - Photo 2-View of airplane from front (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-View%20of%20airplane%20from%20front%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)%20-Master.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. --- 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.