Rans, Inc. RV-9A accident near Harvest, Alabama, September 12, 2007
On September 12, 2007 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Rans, Inc. RV-9A, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N269RV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harvest, Alabama (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare and touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2007 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Harvest, Alabama · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans, Inc. RV-9A, amateur-built
- Registration
- N269RV · registry record · serial 90246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated, "A normal left hand traffic pattern was used with full flaps for landing approach. The airspeed was a little higher than normal at around 70 mph instead of 65 mph for flare entry. The touch down point was earlier than planned. I misjudged the rising airfield terrain for my flare and touched down as a firm three point rather than on the mains first. I immediately took the weight off the nose wheel. From the nose gear fairing fiberglass pieces and the short groove in the turf, it appeared that when I first touched down I damaged the fairing and perhaps locked the wheel. The nose gear touched back down to leave another groove indicative of the nose fork twisting into the ground. The slope flattened out and the plane ballooned. I tried to add power but was too late. When the airplane settled down the damaged nose gear dug in, the [prop] struck and the airplane overturned. The flight was for experience with no intended destination." He also stated, " I should have been more aware of the rising terrain at this end of the airfield and better managed my airspeed. In addition I should have been more aware of the problem with this aircrafts nose gear and used a higher nose wheel tire pressure and replaced it with the manufacture's improved assembly with additional fork clearance. I should have read the recent NTSB June 21, 2007 report on 18 recent RV A model accidents with the nose wheel."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 365 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 264 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 68 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 1, 2007; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCU Decatur AL at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 00AL Harvest AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from KDCU, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.