# NTSB WPR25LA028: Dierenfield Devin RV-6A, N805RV, Lancaster, CA, October 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 25, 2024, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, CA · KWJF - Coordinates: 34.741145, -118.21797 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7411&lon=-118.2180&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: 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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 195408 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195408/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195408 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a stablized approach, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dierenfield Devin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05622NM), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Dierenfield Devin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=05622NM), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dierenfield Devin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05622NM), [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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Dierenfield Devin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05622NM), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he made a verbal arrangement with a flight instructor to accompany him on the flight as an instructor and correct him as necessary. During the flight, while on the base leg of the airport traffic pattern, the flight instructor repeatedly stated, “nose down”, however, the pilot believed the airplane’s altitude and airspeed were correct. Subsequently, the pilot realized that the airplane was too low, and he felt the main landing gear “hit” the runway as he increased engine power to abort the landing. The pilot then reduced engine power, the propeller struck the runway, and the airplane came to rest upright on the right side of the runway. The right wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N805RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N805RV), registered now, S/N 25686, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIERENFIELD DEVIN RV-6A - Registry model: [Dierenfield Devin RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dierenfield-devin-rv-6a) (registry code 05622NM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-390 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-series) (registry code 41678, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 25686 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 1116.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-390 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2024, 3 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KWJF, General Wm J Fox Airfield, runway 24, 7,201 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 3, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,049 total, 89 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; injuries: none; remote, commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KWJF - METAR: METAR KWJF 251856Z 06003KT 10SM CLR 24/M04 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP181 T02441044= ## 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 20241025016339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241025016339A), Oct 25, 2024: Dierenfield Devin RV-6A, Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage. During approach for landing, aircraft right wing impacted blast area of r/way about 85' from r/way threshold followed by heavy prop strikes on r/way. Aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195408. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18138385&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 816 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18138841&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LA028%20photo%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.