# NTSB NYC08CA301: Steppling RV-6A, N69RV, Toughkenamon, PA, September 2, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 2, 2008, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Toughkenamon, PA - Coordinates: 39.830276, -75.769721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8303&lon=-75.7697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68856 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68856/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA301 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced 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: [Steppling William A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=056062H), [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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Steppling William A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056062H), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Steppling William A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056062H), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Steppling William A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056062H), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Steppling William A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056062H), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of an amateur-built RV-6A, he experienced a "slight" crosswind from the right while on final approach to the 3,695-foot-long, 50-foot-wide asphalt runway. During the landing flare, the airplane unexpectedly "dropped" and impacted the runway. The airplane then bounced several times, and the nose landing gear collapsed during the last bounce. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and flipped over, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The winds reported at the closest airport (13 miles to the southeast) at the time of the accident were variable at 3 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of an amateur-built RV-6A, he experienced a "slight" crosswind from the right while on final approach to the 3,695-foot-long, 50-foot wide asphalt runway. During the landing flare, the airplane unexpectedly "dropped," and impacted the runway. The airplane then bounced several times, and the nose landing gear collapsed during the last bounce. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and flipped over, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported 257 hours of total flight experience, 145 of which were in make and model. He also reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The winds reported at the closest airport, 13 miles to the southeast, at the time of the accident, were variable at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N69RV), registered now, S/N 23756 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEPPLING RV-6A - Registry model: [Steppling William A RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/steppling-william-a-rv-6a) (registry code 056062H) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23756 - Airframe hours: 630 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mark Goodman - Registered owner: 69 Rv Partnership - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2007 - Departed: N57, Toughkenamon, PA - Destination: N57, Toughkenamon, PA - Airport: N57, New Garden Airport, runway 24, 3,695 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 257 total, 145 in this make and model, 137 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: ILG, 13 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 20080902849789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080902849789A), Sep 2, 2008: Steppl RV6A, Toughkenamon, PA, Destroyed. (-23) The PIC began to flare the airplane too high. There was a slight right crosswind. The aircraft hit the runway tail first and extremely hard. The nose… 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.