# NTSB NYC08CA126: Morrison Vans RV-8, N781RV, Port Orange, FL, March 3, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 3, 2008, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Port Orange, FL
- Coordinates: 29.079999, -81.046669
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0800&lon=-81.0467&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Orlando
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67631/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA126

## Probable cause

The airplane's inadvertent encounter with a crosswind gust during the landing roll, which resulted in the pilot's loss of directional control.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Morrison Mark W RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056117Z), [All aircraft, 1,014 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Morrison Mark W RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056117Z), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Morrison Mark W RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056117Z), [All aircraft, 1,201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wall/barricade](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Morrison Mark W RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027/cases.md?model=056117Z), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Morrison Mark W RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056117Z), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Morrison Mark W RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056117Z), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the amateur-built Vans RV-8 landed the tail dragger airplane at his home airport with a 200-pound passenger in the rear seat, but with the center of gravity within limits. Winds were 60 to 70 degrees from the right, at 15, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot elected to use "half flaps" due to the winds, and the airplane touched down at 85 to 90 miles per hour behind a protective row of condominiums and trees. Upon emerging from behind the protective row, the airplane was "suddenly" hit with a strong wind gust that turned it 45 degrees to the right, toward a tree and hangars about 30 yards beyond the tree. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake, but was unable to turn the airplane. The airplane continued off the runway, into a cable barricade and ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot noted that there was a skid mark from the left tire at least 120 feet long, and that he would have been unable to abort the landing from where he lost control.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the amateur-built Vans RV-8, he landed the tail dragger airplane at his home airport with a 200-pound passenger in the rear seat, but with the center of gravity within limits. Winds were 60 to 70 degrees from the right, at 15, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot elected to use "half flaps" due to the winds, and the airplane touched down at 85 to 90 miles per hour behind a protective row of condominiums and trees. Upon emerging from behind the protective row, the airplane was "suddenly" hit with a strong wind gust that turned it 45 degrees to the right, toward a tree and hangars about 30 yards beyond the tree. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake, but was unable to turn the airplane. The airplane continued off the runway, into a cable barricade and ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot also noted that there was a skid mark from the left tire at least 120 feet long, and that he would have been unable to abort the landing from where he lost control.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N781RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N781RV), registered now, S/N 80144, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Morrison Vans RV-8
- Registry model: [Morrison Mark W RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/morrison-mark-w-rv-8) (registry code 056117Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 80144
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360A1B6 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James Corley
- Registered owner: Partnership (4 Individuals)
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 7FL6, Port Orange, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 20,000 total, 45 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 15 knots, gusting 20

## 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 20080303837139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080303837139A), Mar 3, 2008: Amtr RV8, Daytona Beach, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Departed home airport, Spruce Creek, (7FL6) approximately 10:00 am with winds 5 gusting to 10 knots. Returned to home base after approx. 30 minutes for…

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.