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Nose Gear Collapse During Landing on Private Grass Runway

Garland, NC, United States

On October 12, 2016, a NEWKIRK THOMAS RAY VANS RV 6 A was involved in an aviation accident near Garland, NC. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing on the grass runway. This summary draws on records from NTSB.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that during a landing on a private grass runway, the airplane bounced, causing the nose gear to collapse and the aircraft to nose over. The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.

Event

A pilot landed a single-engine airplane on his private grass runway. During the initial touchdown, the airplane skipped. As it settled back to the runway, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over.

Pilot Report

The pilot described the grass as soft. He stated that the nose gear failed during the landing. In a postaccident conversation with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI), the pilot added that the airplane bounced during touchdown. When it settled back, the nose gear had been damaged and subsequently sank into the grass.

Inspection

An FAA ASI provided a photograph showing an initial impact mark approximately 100 feet before the location where the airplane nosed over. According to the source, it is likely that the nose gear was damaged during the initial touchdown.

Damage

The vertical stabilizer was substantially damaged.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Effect on equipment

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 12 Oct 2016 NEWKIRK THOMAS RAY VANS RV 6 A accident near Garland, NC?

A pilot reported that during a landing on a private grass runway, the airplane bounced, causing the nose gear to collapse and the aircraft to nose over. The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 12 Oct 2016 NEWKIRK THOMAS RAY VANS RV 6 A accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 12 Oct 2016 involved a NEWKIRK THOMAS RAY VANS RV 6 A, at Garland, NC.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing on the grass runway.

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