Amateur-built DR-107 accident near Warrenton, Virginia, October 3, 2012
On October 3, 2012 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DR-107, registered N63071, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Warrenton, Virginia (Warrenton-Fauquier 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 attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in an undershoot of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2012 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · Warrenton-Fauquier Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DR-107
- Registration
- N63071 · no longer on the register · serial 94-0067
- 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 he landed short and the left wheel collided with the elevated edge of the runway threshold. During the accident sequence, the airplane's left wheel separated from the landing gear axle and punctured the left wing spar and rib, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Landing area undershoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 260 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 217 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 22, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 220 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 13, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWY Warrenton VA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: HWY Warrenton VA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 15, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from HWY
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.
Other NTSB records under N63071 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.