Amateur-built Van's Aircraft RV-9A accident near Venice, Florida, April 8, 2006
On April 8, 2006 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Van's Aircraft RV-9A, registered N339DL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Venice, Florida (Venice Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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/touchdown which resulted in a hard landing and damage to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2006 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, Florida · Venice Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Van's Aircraft RV-9A
- Registration
- N339DL · registry record · serial 90206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that his approach speed on final approach to land was too fast, and the touchdown point was beyond the optimum touchdown point. He said he inappropriately had a nose low attitude, and the nose gear rather than the main gear hit the runway with a thump. He then executed a go-around, and the second approach was better. He flared and landed the airplane on the main landing gear, and as nose was lowered, there was a scraping sound. After stopping the airplane the pilot said he noted that the airplane had incurred damage. Prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane or any of its systems.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 742 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 5:30 pm
- Destination: VNC Venice FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from VNC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.