# NTSB WPR09CA304: Stucker Virgil A Avid Magnu, N777DV, Emmett, ID, June 21, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 21, 2009, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Emmett, ID - Coordinates: 43.877498, -116.536941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8775&lon=-116.5369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74101 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74101/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74101 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA304 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNUM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05605K5), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNUM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05605K5), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNUM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05605K5), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNUM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05605K5), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNUM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05605K5), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNUM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05605K5), [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: [Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNUM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05605K5), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing almost directly into a headwind, and as he neared the approach end of the runway for a full-stop landing he noticed that the airplane was sinking at a higher rate than he wanted it to. He therefore added power in order to decrease the rate of descent. The addition of power was not sufficient to significantly reduce the sink rate, and the airplane contacted the runway hard and bounced back into the air. After the airplane bounced back into the air, the pilot did not maintain runway alignment and when it touched down again it was off the side of the runway. During this second touchdown, the nosewheel hit first and collapsed. Immediately thereafter, one of the wings impacted the terrain, resulting in substantial damage to its structure. According to the pilot, there were no anomalies associated with the airplane's flight control system. ## Factual narrative As the pilot, who was landing almost directly into a headwind, neared the approach end of the runway for a full-stop landing, he noticed that the airplane was sinking at a higher rate than he wanted it to. He therefore added power in order to decrease the rate of descent. The addition of power was not sufficient to significantly reduce the sink rate, and therefore the airplane contacted the runway hard and bounced back into the air. After the airplane bounced back into the air, the pilot lost directional control, and when it touched down again it was off the side of the runway. During this second touchdown, the nose wheel hit first and collapsed. Immediately thereafter, one of the wings impacted the terrain resulting in substantial damage to its structure. According to the pilot, there were no anomalies associated with the airplane's flight control system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N777DV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N777DV), registered now, S/N 105M, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STUCKER VIRGIL A AVID MAGNU - Registry model: [Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNUM](https://openairdocs.org/model/stucker-virgil-a-avid-magnum) (registry code 05605K5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 105M - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stucker Virgil A - Registered owner: Stucker Virgil A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: S67, Nampa, ID - Destination: S78, Emmett, ID - Airport: S78, Emmett Municipal, runway 28, 3,250 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 197 total, 24 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 20090621015149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090621015149A), Jun 21, 2009: Amtr AVIDMAGNUM, Nampa, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated he was attempting to land o n the numbers of runway 28,however landed approximately 50' short of the numbers on the dispaced threshold.… ## Other investigations on N777DV (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR19CA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19CA197), Jul 20, 2019: Avid Avid Magnum (N777DV), Yellow Pine, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to land on a rough, grass airstrip, which resulted in the nose landing gear collapsing and a subsequent nose-over. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74101. 667 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 667 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.