Amateur-built RV-9A accident near Kingston, Tennessee, May 19, 2023
On May 19, 2023 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2015 amateur-built RV-9A, registered N105GS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kingston, Tennessee (Wolf Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2023 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kingston, Tennessee · Wolf Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-9A NO SERIES, built 2015
- Registration
- N105GS · no longer on the register · serial 91280
- 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 the airplane bounced upon landing and the nose landing gear impacted the turf runway. Subsequently, the nose landing gear dug into the runway and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 670 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 670 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 4, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 222.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B1A (piston); 158 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TN44 Lafollette TN at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from TYS, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTYS 191853Z 28006KT 10SM FEW050 FEW250 26/15 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP181 T02560150
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.