Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary GAA19CA041

Paola, KS, USA

Aircraft #1

N515CW

Vans RV 6

Analysis

The pilot reported that the airspeed was slow during landing, and "when I began my flare…[the airplane] dropped onto the runway hard and bounced." He added full power and full right rudder to abort the landing, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane became airborne, but the landing gear wheels encountered tall grass and the airplane did not have sufficient airspeed to stay airborne. The airplane descended into the mud on the left side of the runway, collided with a drainage culvert, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual Information

The pilot reported that his airspeed was slow during landing and "when I began my flare it dropped onto the runway hard and bounced." He added full power and full right rudder to abort the landing, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane became airborne, but the landing gear wheels encountered the tall grass and, "I could not gain enough speed to stay airborne." The airplane descended into the mud on the left side of the runway, and then collided with a drainage culvert before it nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the vertical stabilizer and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion during the aborted landing and subsequent impact with vegetation and a nose-over.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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