Amateur-built LONGEZE accident near Houston, Texas, March 27, 2010
On March 27, 2010 at about 11:20 pm local time, a amateur-built LONGEZE, registered N164JV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Houston, Texas (Pearland Regional 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 failure to maintain directional control while landing with a quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2010 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Pearland Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONGEZE
- Registration
- N164JV · no longer on the register · serial 164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after about a 5.5-hour flight with one refueling stop, he was making a “crab type” approach to runway 32 due to the considerable crosswinds at his destination airport. He added that he still experienced some side drift to the right and that attempts to correct back to centerline resulted in a small bounce and “considerable wing rock.” He also added that he lost control at the edge of the runway and elected not to try a go-around and make the situation worse. The airplane exited the right side of the runway, impacted a ditch and collapsed the landing gear before sliding to a stop in the upright position. At about the time of the accident the automated weather station at the airport reported winds from 180 degrees at 10 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 832 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 728 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 28, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 14, 2010
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming 0-340 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OZA Ozona TX at 9:15 pm
- Destination: LVJ Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,302 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KLVJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.