# NTSB GAA20CA003: Vans RV9, N192DP, Lake Elsinore, CA, October 4, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 4, 2019, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Lake Elsinore, CA - Coordinates: 33.630001, -117.301666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6300&lon=-117.3017&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100375/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100375 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi, which resulted in the landing gear collapsing and a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piermattei Donald L VANS ACFT RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05613IX), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piermattei Donald L VANS ACFT RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=05613IX), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piermattei Donald L VANS ACFT RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=05613IX), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piermattei Donald L VANS ACFT RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05613IX), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piermattei Donald L VANS ACFT RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05613IX), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piermattei Donald L VANS ACFT RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05613IX), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after landing on a dirt runway and while taxiing down the runway to the parking area, the nose landing gear encountered soft terrain and collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rudder. 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, after landing on a dirt runway, while taxiing down the runway to the parking area. The nose landing gear went over an area of soft terrain, collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N192DP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N192DP-2021-01-01), registration cancelled 2021-01-01, S/N 90411, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV9 (A) - Registry model: [Piermattei Donald L VANS ACFT RV-9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piermattei-donald-l-vans-acft-rv-9a) (registry code 05613IX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D2J](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d2j) (registry code 41595, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 90411 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 512.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D25 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 28, 2018 - Departed: 67L, Mesquite, NV - Destination: CA89, Lake Elsinore, CA - Airport: CA89, Skylark Field, runway 11L, 2,800 × 100 ft, dirt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 56 total, 7.1 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 24.7 in the last 90 days, 15.3 in the last 30 days, 8.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KRIV, 16 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 20191004014189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191004014189A), Oct 4, 2019: Piermattei Donald L VANS ACFT RV-9A, Lake Elsinore, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landing was uneventful. During aircraft taxi, the nose gear dug into the soft dirt runway causing the nose gear to break. Aircraft flipped tail… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100375. 768 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 581 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478602&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.