# NTSB GAA17CA316: Malinowski Walter S RV8, N102CM, Canaan Valley, WV, June 2, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 2, 2017, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Canaan Valley, WV
- Coordinates: 39.055831, -79.43 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0558&lon=-79.4300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95291
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA316
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95291/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95291
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA316

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05626O3), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05626O3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05626O3), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=05626O3), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05626O3), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05626O3), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05626O3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05626O3), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the landing, as the main gear touched down, a wind gust "carried" the airplane off the right side of the runway. He added that, when the nose gear touched down, it sunk into the soft ground, and the airplane "flipped over on its back." The airplane sustained substantial damage to its canopy and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the weather at the accident site about the time of the accident was wind from 330° at 12 knots, gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot landed on runway 06. An automated weather observation system about 14 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 310° at 8 knots, gusting to 16 knots.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing, as the main gear touched down, a gust of wind "carried" the airplane off the right side of the runway. He added that when the nose gear touched down, it sunk into the soft ground and the airplane "flipped over on its back". The airplane sustained substantial damage to its canopy and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the weather at the accident site, about the time of the accident as, wind from 330° at 12 knots, gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot landed on runway 06. An automated weather observation system about 14 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, wind from 310° at 8 knots, gusting to 16 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N102CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N102CM-2018-08-02), registration cancelled 2018-08-02, S/N 81015, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MALINOWSKI WALTER S RV8 (A)
- Registry model: [Malinowski Walter S RV8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/malinowski-walter-s-rv8a) (registry code 05626O3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6) (registry code 41576, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 81015
- Year built: 2014
- Airframe hours: 97
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1-B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 19, 2016
- Departed: JYO, LEESBURG, VA
- Destination: WV62, Canaan Valley, WV
- Airport: WV62, Windwood Fly-In Resort, runway 06, 3,000 × 40 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 5, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,690 total, 97 in this make and model, 3,420 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10.8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KW99, 14 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 20170602018509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170602018509A), Jun 2, 2017: Malinowski Walter S RV8A, Canaan Valley, WV, Substantial damage. During the touchdown phase of flight the aircraft due to mismanaged controls, as shown by the witness marks on the runway, the aircraft began to oscillate and…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95291. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 880 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 411 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.

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