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January 14, 2015 · Shannon William RV6A · N32SN

Pikeville, KY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 14, 2015
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Pikeville, KY
Aircraft
Shannon William RV6A (2001)
Tail Number
N32SN
Operator
Norm Cyr Aircraft Sales
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA15CA100

The pilot had purchased the airplane the day prior, and was returning to his home airport when he elected to stop at an intermediate airport for fuel. After crossing the runway threshold, the pilot reduced engine power and entered the landing flare. He felt the airplane "balloon up slightly, then stall and drop around 15 feet" onto the runway. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane subsequently ran off the side of the runway, where it came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder. Photographs of the airplane taken by the airport manager following the accident depicted the presence of rime ice along the leading edges of the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that he had not obtained a weather briefing, but had conducted a cursory review of enroute weather via an online vendor prior to the flight, and was not aware of icing conditions along his intended route of flight. He also stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing, and his subsequent flight into icing conditions, which resulted in the accumulation of ice on the airframe.

Full Narrative

The pilot had purchased the airplane the day prior, and was returning to his home airport when he elected to stop at an intermediate airport for fuel. After crossing the runway threshold, the pilot reduced engine power and entered the landing flare. He felt the airplane "balloon up slightly, then stall and drop around 15 feet" onto the runway. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane subsequently ran off the side of the runway, where it came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder. Photographs of the airplane taken by the airport manager following the accident depicted the presence of rime ice along the leading edges of the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that he had not obtained a weather briefing, but had conducted a cursory review of enroute weather via an online vendor prior to the flight, and was not aware of icing conditions along his intended route of flight. He also stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:00 EST
Nearest AirportPike County-Hatcher Field (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length5356 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftShannon William RV6A
Tail NumberN32SN
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorNorm Cyr Aircraft Sales
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 28 C
Altimeter30.22 inHg
Observation Time21:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data