Summary
On June 21, 2009, a Stucker Virgil A AVID MAGNU (N777DV) was involved in an incident near Emmett, ID. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
As the pilot, who was landing almost directly into a headwind, neared the approach end of the runway for a full-stop landing, he noticed that the airplane was sinking at a higher rate than he wanted it to. He therefore added power in order to decrease the rate of descent. The addition of power was not sufficient to significantly reduce the sink rate, and therefore the airplane contacted the runway hard and bounced back into the air. After the airplane bounced back into the air, the pilot lost directional control, and when it touched down again it was off the side of the runway. During this second touchdown, the nose wheel hit first and collapsed. Immediately thereafter, one of the wings impacted the terrain resulting in substantial damage to its structure.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR09CA304. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N777DV.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
As the pilot, who was landing almost directly into a headwind, neared the approach end of the runway for a full-stop landing, he noticed that the airplane was sinking at a higher rate than he wanted it to. He therefore added power in order to decrease the rate of descent. The addition of power was not sufficient to significantly reduce the sink rate, and therefore the airplane contacted the runway hard and bounced back into the air. After the airplane bounced back into the air, the pilot lost directional control, and when it touched down again it was off the side of the runway. During this second touchdown, the nose wheel hit first and collapsed. Immediately thereafter, one of the wings impacted the terrain resulting in substantial damage to its structure. According to the pilot, there were no anomalies associated with the airplane's flight control system.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR09CA304