# NTSB GAA18CA451: Vans RV 6, N24CM, Pickens, SC, July 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 28, 2018, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Pickens, SC - Coordinates: 34.810001, -82.702774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8100&lon=-82.7028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97926 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA451 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97926/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97926 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA451 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. ## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane, he had practiced two takeoffs and landings and then decided to refuel the airplane. After refueling the airplane, he flew one more pattern before flying to his home airport. The pilot stated that, during the landing flare, the airplane "seemed as if it was being pushed down." The left wing struck the runway, the airplane landed on the right main landing gear, and the airplane then bounced. The propeller struck the ground, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway and then stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The METAR at the airport about the time of the accident reported that the wind was calm. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane, he had practiced two takeoffs and landings and decided to refuel the airplane. After refueling the airplane, he flew one more pattern prior to flying to his home airport. During the flare, the airplane "seemed as if it was being pushed down." The left wing struck the runway and the airplane landed on the right main landing gear, and then it bounced. The propeller struck the ground and the airplane exited the right side of the runway and stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The METAR at the airport about the time of the accident reported that the wind was calm. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N24CM (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Vans RV 6 (Undesignat) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20835 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 1658.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2018 - Departed: AVL, Asheville, NC - Destination: AVL, Asheville, NC - Airport: LQK, Pickens County, runway 05, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 20, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 752 total, 48 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command, 6.4 in the last 90 days, 2.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KLQK ## 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 20180728018229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180728018229A), Jul 28, 2018: Mckeage Christopher RV-6, Pickens, SC, Substantial damage. Flight originated from ashville, NC and ended at Pickens, SC. Pilot stated that he had made a couple of landings and on the last, during the flare out that the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97926. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.