No fatalities

10 Jul 2009: CHRISTOPHER VANS RV-4 — Scott Stewart — Wendover, UT

Wendover, UT, United States

On 10 Jul 2009, a CHRISTOPHER VANS RV-4 operated by Scott Stewart was involved in an aviation accident near Wendover, UT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate flare during touchdown and failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that during landing, the tail wheel contacted the runway, prompting an aborted landing. Engine torque caused a left veer, ground loop, and nose-over, resulting in wing damage.

Incident Summary

A pilot reported that during a landing attempt, the airplane was configured for landing and a stabilized approach was maintained to the destination runway. During the flare maneuver, the tail wheel contacted the runway surface. The pilot then applied full engine power in an effort to abort the landing.

Sequence of Events

The increase in engine power produced torque that caused the airplane's nose to veer to the left. The airplane subsequently ground-looped to the left, departing the runway surface. Both wings impacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over.

Damage and Pilot Observations

The impact resulted in damage to the wings. In the pilot's written submission to the Safety Board (NTSB Form 6120.1; Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report), in the section titled RECOMMENDATION (How could this accident/incident have been prevented), the pilot stated that he needed "more practice." The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.

Contributing factors

Landing flare — Not attained/maintainedDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot