# NTSB LAX08CA279: Anderson R E/Abromavich L J Lancair 360, N6114, Vancouver, WA, August 25, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 25, 2008, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Vancouver, WA
- Coordinates: 45.618888, -122.655555
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6189&lon=-122.6556&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68799
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA279
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68799/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA279

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Anderson R E/Abromavich L J LANCAIR 0-360, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05603E3), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Anderson R E/Abromavich L J LANCAIR 0-360, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05603E3), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Anderson R E/Abromavich L J LANCAIR 0-360, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05603E3), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that the automated terminal information service reported that the winds were from the west at 6 knots. He entered downwind for runway 26, turned a long final at 500 feet, and planned to touch down just past the runway numbers. He noted a headwind as he approached at 90 miles per hour (mph). About 20 feet above ground level, the airplane suddenly sank. The airplane touched down hard in a nose-high attitude and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded about 1,000 feet and stopped off the left side of the runway. The pilot noted that he normally flew an approach speed of 90 mph, and chose to do so because the runway was only 2,600 feet long due to a displaced threshold. He uses 100 mph in high temperature or gusty wind conditions. He opined that if he had been at 100 mph, he might have been able to stop the unexpected high sink rate prior to contacting the runway.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that the automated terminal information service reported that the winds were from the west at 6 knots. He entered downwind for runway 26, turned a long final at 500 feet, and planned to touch down just past the runway numbers. He noted a headwind as he approached at 90 miles per hour (mph). About 20 feet above ground level, the airplane suddenly sank. The airplane touched down hard in a nose high attitude, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane skid about 1,000 feet and stopped off the left side of the runway. The pilot noted that he normally flew an approach speed of 90 mph, and chose to do so because the runway was only 2,600 feet long due to a displaced threshold. He uses 100 mph in high temperature or gusty wind conditions. He opined that if he had been at 100 mph, he might have been able to stop the unexpected high sink rate prior to contacting the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6114](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6114), registered now, S/N 467-320-214-FB, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ANDERSON R E/ABROMAVICH L J LANCAIR 360
- Registry model: [Anderson R E/Abromavich L J LANCAIR 0-360](https://openairdocs.org/model/anderson-r-e-abromavich-l-j-lancair-0-360) (registry code 05603E3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 467-320-214-FB
- Airframe hours: 216
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2008, 7 hours before
- Departed: RNO, Reno, NV
- Destination: VUO, Vancouver, WA
- Airport: VUO, Pearson Airpark, runway 26, 3,275 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review August 16, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,261 total, 160 in this make and model, 2,261 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: PDX, 5 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 20080825846289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080825846289A), Aug 25, 2008: LANCAIRO360, Vancouver, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot after 2 hour 15 minute cross country flight from reno, NV, was landing at Pearson field (60S) Vancouver, WA. He intended to land shortly past…

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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