# NTSB GAA18CA562: Rutan Rutan Long EZ, N5RJ, Independence, OR, September 19, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 19, 2018, 07:23 local (14:23 UTC)
- Place: Independence, OR
- Coordinates: 44.866943, -123.198333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8669&lon=-123.1983&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98333
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA562
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98333/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98333
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA562

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard 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: [Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05623G7), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05623G7), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=05623G7), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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: [Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05623G7), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05623G7), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05623G7), [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: [Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05623G7), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot in the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, during his third touch-and-go landing, the airplane's airspeed was fast and that it landed hard. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot in the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that during his third touch-and-go landing, the airplane's airspeed was fast, and the airplane landed hard. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5RJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5RJ), registered now, S/N 739 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rutan RUTAN LONG EZ (No Series)
- Registry model: [Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/jamsek-richard-a-rutan-long-ez) (registry code 05623G7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 739
- Year built: 1996
- Airframe hours: 628
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 2018
- Departed: 7S5, Independence, OR
- Destination: 7S5, Independence, OR
- Airport: 7S5, Independence State, runway 34, 3,142 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 87; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review October 1, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 28 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KSLE, 9 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 20180919018559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180919018559A), Sep 19, 2018: Jamsek Richard A RUTAN LONG EZ, Independence, OR, Substantial damage. Aircraft [privacy data omitted] (pilot) was practicing takeoffs and landings. During the accident landing aircraft was observed by witnesses descending at a…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98333. 6.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472316&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472318&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.

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