# NTSB NYC04LA012: Preiss Vans RV-9A, N786HL, Deshler, OH, October 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 2003, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Deshler, OH - Coordinates: 41.215831, -83.874443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2158&lon=-83.8744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58185 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58185/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA012 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper bounced landing recovery. Factor were the pilot's excessive airspeed at touchdown, and his improper use of the wing flaps, by lowering them at touchdown. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot reported that he touched down on the turf runway and the airplane bounced. It then bounced two more times, and the propeller struck the ground, after which, the airplane nosed over. When interviewed, the pilot reported that he forgot to lower the wing flaps, and lowered them when he touched down. In addition, he reported that his approach speed was too high. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2003, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Vans RV-9A, N786HL, was substantially damaged while landing at Deshler Municipal Landing Strip, Deshler, Ohio. The certificated recreational pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from Williams County Airport, Bryan, Ohio. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a written statement taken by the Ohio State Police, the pilot reported: "I was flying into Deshler airport when I realized I was landing on the wrong runway. The runway I was going to land on [runway 05] was too short. I checked my speed and realized I was going too fast. When I touched down onto the runway, I also realized that I forgot to lower the flaps. After I touched down the first time, I lowered my flaps. Then I lost control and bounced up and touched down 2 more times. The third time the plane touched down, the propeller...hit the ground and [the airplane nosed over]...." In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he checked the airport windsock to see what direction the winds were blowing. When asked about how much runway the airplane would need, the pilot added that the runway he landed on was long enough, if he had slowed the airplane down prior to touchdown. According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were two turf runways at Deshler. Runway 09/27 was 2,480 feet long, and 70 feet wide, while runway 05/23 was 1,725 feet long, and 60 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: N786HL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Preiss Vans RV-9A - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 90466 - Airframe hours: 85 - Engines: Subaru E 3253 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2003, 0.4 hours before - Departed: 0G6, Bryan, OH - Destination: 6D7, Deshler, OH - Airport: 6D7, Deshler Municipal Airport, runway 05, 1,725 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private, recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 19, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 2,618 total, 86 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: FDY, 15 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 20031019029309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031019029309A), Oct 19, 2003: Amtr RV9A, Deshler, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) N786HL was attempting a Landing at Deshler airport (6D7) runway 5. The aircraft was observed to bounce twice on the grass runway, the nose gear bent… 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.