# NTSB WPR24LA075: Harmon Rocket II, N630L, Mesquite, NV, January 12, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 12, 2024, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Mesquite, NV - Coordinates: 36.833139, -114.05588 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8331&lon=-114.0559&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193673/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193673 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA075 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control on the landing roll, which led to the airplane coming to rest inverted. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The day before the accident the airplane underwent maintenance on the brake system. The mechanic stated that after completing the maintenance, he advised the pilot to use caution during the first few brake applications to allow the system to wear in and recommended that the pilot perform at least three full stop landings. On the day of the accident, the mechanic reported that he and the pilot ate lunch together, after which he observed the pilot perform several brake checks before departing. A witness reported observing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on the landing roll. The airplane was to the right of the centerline and continued to veer right while the ground speed slowed. The airplane then pitched forward, and the propeller contacted the runway surface. The airplane continued to slide forward and exited the right side of the runway before it nosed over and came to rest inverted with the pilot's head against the pavement. Following the impact, first responders found the pilot in cardiac arrest after a prolonged extrication. He was resuscitated and was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries, including neurological injury that made him unable to communicate any history of the event. No significant pre-impact medical event was specifically identified during his hospitalization. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 2024, about 1515 Pacific Daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Harmon Rocket II airplane, N630L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mesquite, Nevada. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot’s mechanic stated that the day before the accident, he performed maintenance on the right main landing gear brake system. He stated that after completing the maintenance, he advised the pilot to use caution during the first few brake applications to allow the system to wear in and recommended that the pilot perform at least three full stop landings. On the day of the accident, the mechanic reported that he and the pilot ate lunch together, after which he observed the pilot perform several taxi brake checks before departing. A witness reported observing the tailwheel equipped airplane during the landing roll on runway 20. The airplane was right of the runway centerline and continued to veer right as ground speed decreased. The airplane then pitched forward, and the propeller contacted the runway surface. The airplane continued to slide forward, departed the right side of the runway, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted and oriented about 90° to the right of the runway heading. Witnesses who responded immediately after the accident reported that the canopy was broken into pieces on the pavement. The pilot remained restrained by the seatbelt, with his head pressed against the canopy. One witness assessed the pilot and was unable to detect a radial or carotid pulse. Based on this assessment, responders extricated the pilot and initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). After approximately 4 minutes of CPR, a pulse returned, and the pilot was placed on a cardiac monitor, which indicated intermittent bradycardia. The pilot was resuscitated and transported to a hospital with serious injuries, including neurological injury that rendered him unable to communicate any history of the event. No significant pre impact medical condition was identified during his hospitalization. A hospital urine drug screen performed two days after admission did not detect any tested for substances not attributable to post accident medical treatment. According to the pilot’s FAA medical certification file, his most recent aviation medical examination was conducted on December 7, 2023, at which time he was issued a first class medical certificate with no limitations. According to a witness, the first identified point of contact with the runway occurred about 1,200 ft from the approach end of runway 20, where tire marks were observed near the runway centerline. The tire marks subsequently veered right, and multiple propeller strike marks extended approximately 30 ft down the runway. Pieces of the wooden propeller were located in this area. Tire marks continued to the right of the runway, and propeller strike marks resumed approximately150 ft beyond the initial strike marks. The witness reported that runway markings indicated the airplane pitched forward and slid on the propeller hub and fuselage until it reached the right edge of the runway and entered the adjacent deep gravel. Depressions in the gravel were consistent with the airplane flipping over and coming to rest inverted along its longitudinal axis (see figures 1 and 2). The pilot’s mechanic stated that from the tire marks, it appeared the pilot was applying brakes at the same time the engine was producing power. Figures 1 and 2: The tire marks showing the propeller strike marks and the main wreckage showing orientation to the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: N630L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: HARMON ROCKET II - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: GR001 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 260 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 67L, Mesquite, runway 20, 5,121 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KSGU, 27 nm away - METAR: KSGU I22156Z AUTO 240031(1 1OSM CLR 041M10 A3007 RMK A02 SLP198 T00441100 ## 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 20240112000589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240112000589A), Jan 12, 2024: Goheen Lloyd HARMON ROCKET II, Mesquite, NV, Substantial damage. The accident aircraft was conducting a part 91 personal flight. The aircraft took off from Mesquite Municipal Airport during mid-afternoon daylight in calm and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193673. 20.5 MB in all. - Record of conversations (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19807354&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2003%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversation%2024LA075_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video of accident site (provided by witness) (item 2, MOV, 18.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19808372&FileExtension=mov&FileName=20240113_001844000_iOS-Rel.mov - Revisions to final report 7/21/26 (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20691445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Report_WPR24LA075_Revised-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.