NYC07CA035

NTSB accident investigation · Baggett RV6A · Nokesville, VA · November 21, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
November 21, 2006, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
Place
Nokesville, VA
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N5779Baggett RV6A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 26, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Washington, DC
FAA report
20061121028189A
Case key
64906

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

The pilot's inadequate compenstation for a crosswind while landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

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
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The pilot/owner of the amateur-built RV6A airplane stated that it was his first landing attempt in the airplane at his home airport. The runway was oriented east/west on rolling terrain with several "undulations" along its length. The pilot explained that his usual technique was to touchdown on the upslope of the first undulation, become airborne "briefly" over the crest, then touchdown again on the downslope and complete the landing on the runway. He had performed this landing "many times" in his 2,400-pound Grumman Cheetah. While landing the 1,500-pound RV6A, the pilot closed the throttle at touchdown on the upslope, crested the rise, and climbed "much higher than my previous aircraft." The airplane remained airborne a greater distance down the runway than usual, and a "strong crosswind blew it" off the south side of the runway where it landed and subsequently struck a tree. The pilot reported 196 total hours of flight experience, 7 hours of which were in make and model. He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The winds reported 5 miles east were from 030 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 14 knots.

Factual narrative

The pilot/owner of the amateur-built RV6A airplane stated that it was his first landing attempt in the airplane at his home airport. The runway was oriented east/west on rolling terrain with several "undulations" along its length. The pilot explained that his usual technique was to touch down on the upslope of the first undulation, become airborne "briefly" over the crest, then touch down again on the downslope and complete the landing on the runway. He had performed this landing "many times" in his 2,400-pound Grumman Cheetah. While landing the 1,500-pound RV6A, the pilot closed the throttle at touchdown on the upslope, crested the rise, and climbed "much higher than my previous aircraft." The airplane remained airborne a greater distance down the runway than usual, and a "strong crosswind blew it" off the south side of the runway where it landed and subsequently struck a tree. The pilot reported 196 total hours of flight experience, 7 hours of which were in make and model. He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The winds reported 5 miles east were from 030 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 14 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N5779
Reported as
Baggett RV6A
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
60004
Airframe hours
199
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
James F. Gilmore
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · November 1, 2006 · 10 hours before
Departed
KCJR · Culpeper, VA
Destination
51VA · Nokesville, VA
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
51VA · Skyview, runway 27, 2,000 × 150 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
49
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
196 total · 7 in this make and model · 7 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
30° at 11 knots, gusting 14
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
46 °F, dew point 27 °F
Altimeter
30.40 inHg
Observed at
HEF

FAA reports on this event · 1

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