# NTSB WPR20CA255: Air Creation/Sides Rick A Manta 503, N980WC, Ramona, CA, July 9, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2020, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Ramona, CA - Coordinates: 33.039165, -116.915275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0392&lon=-116.9153&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101747 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101747/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101747 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA255 ## Probable cause The solo student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent nose over. ## 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: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05627M2), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05627M2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=05627M2), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05627M2), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=05627M2), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05627M2), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05627M2), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05627M2), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot of a weight shift control aircraft reported that, while on final approach to land, turbulence increased with a moderate crosswind. The student pilot increased the approach speed to compensate for the turbulence. On touch down the aircraft bounced about 3 ft and he attempted to compensate for the turbulence and crosswind and forced the aircraft down. The aircraft was not aligned with the runway heading on the second touch down and the nose wheel dug in. The aircraft subsequently nosed over. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot of a weight shift control aircraft reported that, while on final approach to land, turbulence increased with a moderate crosswind. The student pilot increased the approach speed to compensate for the turbulence. On touch down the aircraft bounced about 3 ft and he attempted to compensate for the turbulence and crosswind and forced the aircraft down. The aircraft was not aligned with the runway heading on the second touch down and the nose wheel dug in. The aircraft subsequently nosed over. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N980WC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N980WC), registered now, S/N M503-08-002, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Creation/Sides Rick A MANTA 503 (No Series) - Registry model: [Sides Rick A MANTA 503](https://openairdocs.org/model/sides-rick-a-manta-503) (registry code 05627M2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503DCSI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503dcsi) (registry code 55567, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: M503-08-002 - Year built: 2008 - Engines: Rotax 503DCSI 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 1, 2019, 344 hours before - Departed: HMT, Hemet, CA - Destination: KRNM, Ramona, CA - Airport: KRNM, Ramona, runway 27, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Airframe parachute, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; student; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 278 total, 12 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KRNM ## 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 20200709008059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200709008059A), Jul 9, 2020: Sides Rick A MANTA 503, Ramona, CA, Substantial damage. While attempting to land on runway 27 At the Ramona Airport, the pilot had difficulty properly lining up the weight-shift controlled aircraft due to a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101747. 819 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 680 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10104256&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA255%206120%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10055445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photo%20N980WC-Rel.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.