# NTSB WPR23LA179: ELY John M Vans Acft RV-8, N83SE, North Las Vegas, NV, May 5, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 5, 2023, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: North Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 36.209598, -115.19407
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2096&lon=-115.1941&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- 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): 114706
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/114706/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114706
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA179

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.

## 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: [ELY John M VANS ACFT RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05617U3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [ELY John M VANS ACFT RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05617U3), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [ELY John M VANS ACFT RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05617U3), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [ELY John M VANS ACFT RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05617U3), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing rollout, he encountered a gusting right crosswind that lifted the right wing. As the airplane weathervaned to the right, the pilot applied left rudder input, but was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane veered off the runway to the right and subsequently ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83SE-2024-10-12), registration cancelled 2024-10-12, S/N 81685, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ELY JOHN M VANS ACFT RV-8
- Registry model: [ELY John M VANS ACFT RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/ely-john-m-vans-acft-rv-8) (registry code 05617U3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 81685
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 1525
- Engines: Aero Sport Power O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 3, 2023, 14 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas, runway 12R, 4,199 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 520 total, 132 in this make and model, 440 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: KVGT
- METAR: KVGT 051653Z 20015G22KT 10SM CLR 19/M02 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP135 T01891017

## 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 20230505004779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230505004779A), May 5, 2023: Ely John M VANS ACFT RV-8, North Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. On 05 may 2023, approximately 9:45 am local, experimental amateur built aircraft on landing rollout on vgt rwy 12R PIC stated a gust of wind lifted the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114706. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15592005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA179%20Flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15591552&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA179%20photo-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.

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