MIA06CA095

NTSB accident investigation · Marland E Davis RV-6A · Live Oak, FL · April 19, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 19, 2006, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
Place
Live Oak, FL
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N8117QMarland E Davis RV-6A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 29, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20060419012209A
Case key
63544

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing resulting in a nose over.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - gusts
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Nose overLanding - flare/touchdown

Analysis

The pilot stated that he attempted a normal landing on runway 2 with winds out of the west. With the winds gusting over trees, he noticed the airplane drifting at the flare. The winds were pushing the airplane off the east side of the runway. He instinctively corrected with rudder and aileron, but did not add power. The airplane landed in a crab position, bending the nose strut, allowing the propeller to dig into the ground. The airplane slid approximately 30 feet until the airplane flipped and came to a stop. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

On April 19, 2006, about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Marland E. Davis RV-6A, N8117Q, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, flipped over during landing at the Suwannee Belle Airport, Live Oak, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received minor injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Suwannee County Airport, Live Oak, Florida, earlier that day, about 1250.

The pilot stated that he attempted a normal landing on runway 2 with winds out of the west. With the winds gusting over trees, he noticed the airplane drifting at the flare. The winds were pushing the airplane off the east side of the runway. He instinctively corrected with rudder and aileron, but did not add power. The airplane landed in a crab position, bending the nose strut, allowing the propeller to dig into the ground. The airplane slid approximately 30 feet until the airplane flipped and came to a stop. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N8117Q
Reported as
Marland E Davis RV-6A
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
25227
Engine
Lycoming O-320, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Raymond Lamar
Registered owner
Raymond Lamar
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
24J · Live Oak, FL
Destination
9FLO · Live Oak, FL
Airport
9FLO · Suwannee Belle Airport, runway 002, 3,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

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
79
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
2,147 total · 384 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
330° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
29.90 inHg
Observed at
40J

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N8117Q · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.