# NTSB WPR24LA217: Moles Kenneth Rans S-19, N806GK, Independence, OR, June 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 25, 2024, 07:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Independence, OR - Coordinates: 44.867152, -123.19824 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8672&lon=-123.1982&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 194592 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194592/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194592 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA217 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Moles Kenneth RANS S-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05631XF), [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: [Moles Kenneth RANS S-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05631XF), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Moles Kenneth RANS S-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05631XF), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Moles Kenneth RANS S-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05631XF), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane landed hard and bounced several times. As a result, the left wing impacted the runway, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N806GK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N806GK), registered now, S/N 110800050, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOLES KENNETH RANS S-19 - Registry model: [Moles Kenneth RANS S-19](https://openairdocs.org/model/moles-kenneth-rans-s-19) (registry code 05631XF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (registry code 55569, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 110800050 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 202 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 23, 2024 - Airport: 7S5, Independence State Airport, runway 34, 3,002 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 65.1 total, 18.1 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 18.1 in the last 90 days, 18.1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KSLE, 9 nm away - METAR: KSLE 251456Z 04005KT 10SM CLR 18/10 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP144 T01780100 50000 ## 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 20240625007329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240625007329A), Jun 25, 2024: Moles Kenneth RANS S-19, Independence, OR, Substantial damage. June 25, 2024, a student pilot flying a rans S-19 experimental amateur built aircraft experienced a hard landing while practicing touch and goes on runway 34… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194592. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17357081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17357408&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.