# NTSB WPR13CA089: Stribling James L RV4, N70AC, Georgetown, CA, January 8, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 8, 2013, 12:24 local (20:24 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, CA - Coordinates: 38.920833, -120.864723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9208&lon=-120.8647&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85987/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85987 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA089 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare and failure to maintain directional control during 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: [Stribling James L RV4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056080V), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stribling James L RV4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=056080V), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Stribling James L RV4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056080V), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Stribling James L RV4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056080V), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Stribling James L RV4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056080V), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Stribling James L RV4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056080V), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he intended to land the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a sloped asphalt runway that he had not landed at before the accident flight. The first landing attempt terminated with a go-around because he was not comfortable with the approach. The second approach was high and a little too fast, which caused the airplane to float down the runway. When the airplane touched down, it bounced; after a second bounce, the pilot applied increasingly aggressive braking for fear of overrunning the runway. The airplane veered off the hard surface runway, encountered soft mud, and subsequently nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he intended to land the tail-wheel equipped airplane on a sloped asphalt runway that he had not landed at prior to the accident flight. The first landing attempt terminated with a go-around because he was not comfortable with the approach. The second approach was high and a little too fast which caused the airplane to float down the runway. When the airplane touched down it bounced; after a second bounce, the pilot applied brakes and corrective action. The airplane veered off the hard surface runway, encountered soft mud and subsequently nosed over substantially damaging the vertical stabilizer, rudder and elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70AC-2013-11-12), registration cancelled 2013-11-12, S/N JS01, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STRIBLING JAMES L RV4 - Registry model: [Stribling James L RV4](https://openairdocs.org/model/stribling-james-l-rv4) (registry code 056080V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JS01 - Airframe hours: 284 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mark Hornsby - Registered owner: Mark Hornsby - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 6, 2013 - Departed: Davis, CA - Destination: E36, Georgetown, CA - Airport: E36, Georgetown Airport, runway 16, 2,980 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: center; flight hours: 250 total, 17 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20130108000139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130108000139A), Jan 8, 2013: Stribling James L RV4, Georgetown, CA, Substantial damage. On January 8, 2013, about 1224 PST, a RV4, N70AC, sustained substantial damage following a hard landing at Georgetown Airport (E36) in Georgetown CA. The… ## Other investigations on N70AC (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 WPR13LA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA351), Jul 31, 2013: Stribling RV4 (N70AC), San Manuel, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85987. 299 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388723&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.