- Date
- April 14, 2019, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wall, SD
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N277EVans Vans RV-12
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190414002779A
- Case key
- 99300
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to depart from a slush-covered runway, which resulted in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and a subsequent nose-over.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during takeoff from a snow- and slush-covered runway, he decided to stay on the right half of the runway. He added that, as the airplane began to rotate and the nose landing gear lifted off the runway, the left main landing gear encountered some slush. The airplane veered left about 15° and exited the runway to the left, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane then nosed over. 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.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during takeoff on a snow and slush covered runway, he decided to stay on the right half of the runway. He added that, as the airplane began to rotate and the nose landing gear was off the runway, the left main landing gear encountered some slush. The airplane veered to the left about 15°, exited the runway to the left, and the nose landing gear collapsed. 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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N277E
- Reported as
- Vans Vans RV-12 (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 120206
- Built
- 2014
- Airframe hours
- 1,062
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 12, 2018
- Departed
- RAP · Rapid City, SD
- Destination
- 6V4 · Wall, SD
- Airport
- 6V4 · Wall Muni, runway 30, 3,499 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- January 9, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 195.3 total · 190.8 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 32 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.71 inHg
- Observed at
- KPHP, 28 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.