Poole Robert C Jr VAN'S N439RP

Summary

On 17 April 2013 at about 15:45 local time, a Poole Robert C Jr VAN'S registered N439RP was involved in an accident near Salisbury, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 April 2013 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Salisbury, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Rowan County Airport (RUQ)

Coordinates

35.6408, -80.5189

Aircraft

Poole Robert C Jr VAN'S

Registration

N439RP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salisbury → Salisbury

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ERA13CA206

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and his subsequent decision to exit the paved runway onto the soft terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane had about 9 total flight hours. He performed a touch-and-go landing, and during the departure, the flaps would not retract. During the next attempt to land, the airplane was not positioned properly, so the pilot performed a go-around. On the following attempt to land, the pilot began a straight-in approach about 3 miles from the runway. On touchdown, the airplane's nose impacted the runway and the nose gear collapsed. As the airplane slowed, the pilot intentionally veered the airplane into the grass next to the runway to avoid remaining on, and thus closing, the runway. The nose gear dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Examination of the flap system revealed a blown fuse; no other preimpact malfunction or abnormality was found that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.