# NTSB LAX01LA264: Williams RV-6A, N131LH, Hawthorne, CA, July 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 2001, 18:51 local (Jul 28, 2001, 01:51 UTC) - Place: Hawthorne, CA - Coordinates: 33.922779, -118.335281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9228&lon=-118.3353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flt Standards Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52865 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52865/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA264 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of his airplane during the landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts - flare - performed, pilot in command - weather condition - windshear - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis Upon arriving at the destination airport, the pilot elected to land long on runway 25 in order to be closer to the airplane's hangar. According to the pilot, during landing flare a windshear or gust was encountered. Although he attempted to take corrective action, he lost control of his airplane, it impacted the runway hard, and a wing broke. No gusts were reported by the airport facility that indicated the local wind was from 250 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot had arrived at the destination airport after flying over 643 nautical miles on a nonstop flight. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2001 about 1851 Pacific daylight time, a Williams RV-6A, N131LH, owned and operated by the pilot, made a hard landing on runway 25 at the Jack Northrop Field, Hawthorne, California. The experimental airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the certificated airline transport pilot nor the passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight. No flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Alamosa, Colorado, about 1230 mountain daylight time. The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he had to add engine power during the landing flare. However, the airplane likely stalled and "dropped hard" onto the runway. The left wing broke. In the pilot's completed accident report, he indicated that he had landed long because the airplane's hangar was at the far end of runway 25. During the landing flare a windshear or gust lifted the right wing upward, and the left wing tip contacted the runway. He attempted to increase engine power to compensate for the upset, but he was not successful. At 1853, Hawthorne reported its surface wind was from 250 degrees at 7 knots. No gusts were reported. The (great circle) distance between Alamosa and Hawthorne is about 643 nautical miles. The pilot was unclear regarding his exact departure time. However, he stated that the flight was performed nonstop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N131LH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N131LH), registered now, S/N 20781, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Williams RV-6A - Registry model: [Williams Leroy RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/williams-leroy-rv-6a) (registry code 05622CM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20781 - Airframe hours: 847 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leroy Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 2000, 59 hours before - Departed: ALS, Alamosa, CO - Destination: HHR, Hawthorne, CA - Airport: HHR, Jack Northrop Field, runway 25, 4,956 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 8, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 9,427 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 9,090 as pilot in command, 136 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: HHR ## 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 20010728030559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010728030559A), Jul 28, 2001: Amtr RV6A, Hawthorne, CA, No damage. (-23) On July 27, 2001 at 1851 hours PDT, a RV-6A, N131LH, made a hard landing on runway 25 at Hawthorne airport (hhr). The aircraft received substantial… 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.