On August 21, 2002, a Barnes VANS RV-6 (registration N190TB) was involved in an aviation accident near Chesnee, SC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot misjudged the landing flare, resulting in a hard landing, loss of directional control, and damage to the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot reported a hard touchdown followed by a high bounce. After applying full power, the aircraft veered left, striking trees and nosing over. No mechanical issues were noted.
What happened
According to the pilot's account, the airplane experienced a hard landing at the moment of initial touchdown. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce significantly into the air before making contact with the ground a second time. Following this event, the pilot applied full engine power in an attempt to regain control or continue the flight path.
During this phase, the airplane veered sharply to the left. As a result of this deviation, the left wing struck a line of trees. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to nosed over. When questioned regarding any mechanical discrepancies prior to or during the incident, the pilot stated that none were present.