# NTSB GAA18CA466: Vans RV9, N899RV, Holland, MI, July 28, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 28, 2018, 09:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place: Holland, MI
- Coordinates: 42.796665, -86.162498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7967&lon=-86.1625&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97981
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA466
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97981/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97981
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA466

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during a go-around.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pahnke Vernon A VANS RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=05621FR), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pahnke Vernon A VANS RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05621FR), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Pahnke Vernon A VANS RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05621FR), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Pahnke Vernon A VANS RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05621FR), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Pahnke Vernon A VANS RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05621FR), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced. He initiated a go-around, and the airplane then veered left, touched back down on the ground, and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced. He initiated a go around, the airplane veered left, touched back down on the ground, and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N899RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N899RV), registered now, S/N 90537, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV9 (A)
- Registry model: [Pahnke Vernon A VANS RV-9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/pahnke-vernon-a-vans-rv-9a) (registry code 05621FR) (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: 90537
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 513
- Engines: Lycoming 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2018
- Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI
- Destination: HLM, Holland, MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: HLM, Park Township, runway 05, 2,999 × 59 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 220.8 total, 35.5 in this make and model, 168 as pilot in command, 29.7 in the last 90 days, 8.1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KBIV, 4 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 20180728006749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180728006749A), Jul 28, 2018: Pahnke Vernon A VANS RV-9A, Holland, MI, Substantial damage. On July 28, 2018 at 09:50 am eastern daylight time, an experimental van?s RV-9A aircraft, N899RV, registered to and operated by a private pilot, received…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97981. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467692&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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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