# NTSB GAA17CA467: James D Riggs RV-10, N616JJ, Lawrenceburg, TN, July 30, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2017, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Lawrenceburg, TN
- Coordinates: 35.235279, -87.258331 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2353&lon=-87.2583&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95745
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA467
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95745/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95745
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA467

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare and failure to maintain yaw control during a go-around in gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [James D Riggs RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0563172), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane encountered wind shear and landed hard. He added that, during the bounce, he applied power to go around, but the airplane yawed to the left "severely." The pilot added right rudder and reduced power to abort the takeoff in an attempt to land back on the runway. The airplane was "about 6 ft. [above ground level]" and continued left, and the left wing impacted a ditch. Subsequently, the propeller struck the ground, the airplane rotated 180°, and the airplane came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. There were no nearby National Weather Service reporting stations. An online commercial weather service provider reported that a nearby station reported, about the time of the accident, wind from 315° at 1.6 mph, gusting to 3.4 mph. The pilot reported sky clear, visibility 10+, temperature 74°F, and altimeter setting 29.90 inches of mercury, and he observed the wind direction from 270° at a light-and-variable speed, gusting to 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 35.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane encountered windshear and landed hard. He added that during the bounce, he applied power to go around, but the airplane yawed to the left "severely". The pilot added right rudder and reduced power to abort the takeoff in an attempt to land back on the runway. The airplane "about 6 ft. [above ground level]" continued left and the left wing impacted a ditch. Subsequently, the propeller struck the ground, the airplane rotated 180°, and the airplane came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. There were no nearby National Weather Service reporting stations. An online commercial weather service provider reported that a nearby station, about the time of the accident, reported wind from 315° @ 1.6 mph, gusting 3.4 mph. The pilot reported sky clear, visibility 10+, temperature 74?, altimeter 29.90, and he observed the wind direction from 270° at a light and variable speed, gusting to 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 35.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N616JJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N616JJ-2018-11-30), registration cancelled 2018-11-30, S/N 40853, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JAMES D RIGGS RV-10 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [James D Riggs RV-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/james-d-riggs-rv-10) (registry code 0563172) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 40853
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 70
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 289 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 30, 2017
- Departed: 2M2, Lawrenceburg, TN
- Destination: 2M2, Lawrenceburg, TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 2M2, Lawrenceburg-Lawrence County, runway 35, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 605 total, 70 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KMRC, 19 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 20170730012689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170730012689A), Jul 30, 2017: James D Riggs RV-10, Lawrenceburg, TN, Substantial damage. The owner took the aircraft out for a local flight after completing the condition inspection. During landing on runway 35, the aircraft touched down hard,…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95745. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 899 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Weather Snapshot (item 2, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Snapshot-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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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