Pilot Debrief

NEAR WILLIAM J RV-7A near Weirsdale, FL — 2025-02-05

Final reportERA25LA109
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Date
2025-02-05
Location
Weirsdale, FL, USA
Airport
97FL
Aircraft
NEAR WILLIAM J RV-7A
Registration
N811WJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and subsequent nose over.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing the experimental amateur-built airplane on a turf runway, and had traveled about 1/3 the length of the runway when the airplane “lost energy” about 5 feet above ground level. The airplane then bounced as it crested a small hill before it landed “hard” on the nose landing gear. The nose landing gear subsequently dug into the soft, sandy soil and the airplane nosed over. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts, empennage, and fuselage during the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s flight controls revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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