# NTSB WPR10LA445: Morehead KR-2, N522PC, Rancho Murieta, CA, September 2, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2010, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Rancho Murieta, CA - Coordinates: 38.487777, -121.10028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4878&lon=-121.1003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77182 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA445 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77182/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77182 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA445 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper 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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Morehead Charlie James KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05621VV), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Morehead Charlie James KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05621VV), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Morehead Charlie James KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05621VV), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Morehead Charlie James KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05621VV), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Morehead Charlie James KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05621VV), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Morehead Charlie James KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05621VV), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Morehead Charlie James KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05621VV), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing the airplane bounced and the nose pitched up, so he added power to go around. This was followed by his lowering the nose to build up airspeed; however, he overcorrected and the airplane impacted the runway with the nosewheel, collapsing the nose strut. The airplane subsequently skidded down the runway before exiting off the left side and nosing over, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and rudder. The pilot said that there were no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2010, about 0945 Pacific daylight time, an amateur built Morehead KR-2 experimental airplane, N522PC, was substantially damaged following a bounced landing and loss of control at the Rancho Murieta Airport (RIU), Rancho Murieta, California. The first pilot, who occupied the left seat, was seriously injured, and the second pilot, who occupied the right seat sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the first pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The flight departed RIU about 0940. In a statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the first pilot reported that on the day prior to the accident he flew the airplane from the right seat doing touch-and-go landings while the second pilot occupied the left seat. The first pilot revealed that on the day of the accident he again flew from the right seat, did nine landings, and again the second pilot occupied the left seat; after a short break they switched seats. On the first landing attempt from the left seat, the first pilot reported that he was a little fast and high on final, which resulted in a go-around, and that the next approach was “much better,” but he bounced the landing “pitching my nose high.” The first pilot added that he [added] full power to go around, but when he lowered the nose to build up speed he overcorrected and hit the runway with the nose wheel, which caused the nose gear to collapse and the propeller to strike the runway. The pilot added that the airplane skidded down the runway before going off the left side and nosing over. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector reported that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the firewall and the rudder. No preimpact anomalies were reported that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N522PC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N522PC-2017-10-31), registration cancelled 2017-10-31, S/N KR27561, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Morehead KR-2 - Registry model: [Morehead Charlie James KR-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/morehead-charlie-james-kr-2) (registry code 05621VV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2100](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2100) (registry code 52550, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: KR27561 - Airframe hours: 21 - Engines: Revmaster 2100 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charlie J Morehead - Registered owner: Charlie J Morehead - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 25, 2010, 6 hours before - Departed: RIU, Rancho Murieta, CA - Destination: RIU, Rancho Murieta, CA - Airport: RIU, Rancho Murieta, runway 22, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 23, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 242 total, 15 in this make and model, 181 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 8, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 592 total, 12 in this make and model, 517 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: MHR, 12 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 20100902048849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100902048849A), Sep 2, 2010: Morehead Ch KR-2, Rancho Murietta, CA, Substantial damage. This was the second flight of the day for the aircraft. The first was conducted by the passenger with [privacy data omitted] in the right seat. After refueling… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77182. 781 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 685 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353408&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.