# NTSB GAA19CA374: Vans RV 6, N475AH, Monument Valley, UT, June 27, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 27, 2019, 11:42 local (17:42 UTC) - Place: Monument Valley, UT - Coordinates: 37.016666, -110.200553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0167&lon=-110.2006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99722 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA374 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99722/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99722 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA374 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## 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: [Hester James Arthur RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05608TP), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Hester James Arthur RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05608TP), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hester James Arthur RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05608TP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hester James Arthur RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05608TP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Hester James Arthur RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05608TP), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced hard. He applied full power and aborted the landing. He recalled that he "must have allowed the front end to come up too high," which led to the airplane stalling and veering left. The left wing and then the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. 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 tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during landing, the airplane bounced hard. He applied full power and aborted the landing. He recalled that, "I must have allowed the front end to come up too high and I believe it stalled and veered left." The airplane's left wing struck the ground, followed by the right wing striking the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that weather at the accident site, at the time of the accident was about 85°F, the wind was light and variable, and that the density altitude was about 8,500ft. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N475AH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N475AH), registered now, S/N 20475 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV 6 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Hester James Arthur RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/hester-james-arthur-rv-6) (registry code 05608TP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20475 - Year built: 1992 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2019 - Departed: 0E0, Moriarty, NM - Destination: 0E0, Moriarty, NM - Airport: UT25, Monument Valley, runway 16, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Video recording device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review August 20, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 446.2 total, 216.3 in this make and model, 355.3 as pilot in command, 47.9 in the last 90 days, 26.1 in the last 30 days, 3.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KPGA, 60 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 20190627008209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190627008209A), Jun 27, 2019: Hester James Arthur RV-6, Monument Valley, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot flew to Monument Valley (UT25) from moriarty, NM (0E0). Approached runway 16. Pilot had to execute go around due to truck parked on runway. Approached… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99722. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478385&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.