# NTSB WPR21LA346: Gordon Scot A RV-6A, N3977G, Palouse, WA, September 15, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 15, 2021, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Palouse, WA - Coordinates: 46.883252, -117.08073 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8833&lon=-117.0807&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 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-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA346 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103881/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103881 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA346 ## Probable cause The 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. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gordon Scot A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05629MA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gordon Scot A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05629MA), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gordon Scot A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05629MA), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Gordon Scot A RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05629MA), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the first landing for the instrument proficiency check flight, a go-around was initiated. During the second landing attempt, at an airspeed of 70 knots, the airplane touched down and bounced. The airplane bounced multiple times as it continued down the runway and subsequently nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3977G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3977G), registered now, S/N 23877, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GORDON SCOT A RV-6A - Registry model: [Gordon Scot A RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gordon-scot-a-rv-6a) (registry code 05629MA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-H2AD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-h2ad) (registry code 42131, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23877 - Year built: 2011 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Carter Jason J - Registered owner: Carter Jason J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PUW, Pullman/Moscow, WA - Airport: WN26, Schoepflin, runway 04/22, 2,200 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point - Flight instructor; age 66; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 28, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,212 total, 5,052 as pilot in command, 72.9 in the last 90 days, 26.3 in the last 30 days, 1.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KPUW - METAR: KPUW 151753Z AUTO 26012G21KT 10SM BKN035 OVC045 18/09 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP138 T01830089 10194 20150 50004 ## 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 20210915015769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210915015769A), Sep 15, 2021: Gordon Scot A RV-6A, Palouse, WA, Substantial damage. Instructor with student landing at unfamiliar runway touched down hard and bounced airplane resulting in proposing. The aircraft went off the side of runway… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103881. 5.0 MB in all. - Record of conversation-pilot owner (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13081418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20phone%20CONVERSATION-Rel.pdf - Photo array-courtesy of the first responders (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13081569&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.