Pilot Debrief

VANS RV6 near Searcy, AR — 2023-12-12

Final reportCEN24LA066
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Date
2023-12-12
Location
Searcy, AR, USA
Airport
SRC
Aircraft
VANS RV6
Registration
N113DT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot-rated passenger’s reported failure to maintain control during the landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after he had landed the airplane, the pilot-rated passenger requested to take the flight controls and fly the airplane around the traffic pattern. The pilot agreed. The pilot stated that the night flight in the traffic pattern was satisfactory, but when the passenger turned onto the final approach, they were low and slow. The pilot told the passenger to perform a go-around and he applied full throttle, but the left wing and left tire contacted the runway. The pilot reported that the passenger pulled back on the yoke and the airplane bounced back into the air. The airplane impacted the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights, stalled, impacted the ground on the main landing gear, skidded about 20 ft, and flipped over. The passenger stated that he does not recall flying the airplane and his last memory is of the ambulance ride to the hospital. The vertical stabilizer and left-wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies. Based on the pilot’s statement, it is likely that the passenger failed to maintain control during the landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have taken control during low and slow approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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