Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crowley, Louisiana 70526
Saturday, November 10, 2012 13:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was approaching to land at his private airstrip and that he misjudged the airplane height above the runway and incorrectly relaxed back pressure on the control stick, which allowed the nosewheel to contact the runway before the main landing gear. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and the airplane nosing over.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/10/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Crowley
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70526
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301251N
Event Location Longitude 0921538W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID LFT
Elevation of weather observation facility 42
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KLFT 101853Z 18011G16KT 10SM FEW070 27/13 A3
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30818
NTSB Notification Source FAA -- BTR FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2012 2:49PM
User who most recently changed record sort
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N434KL
NTSB Number CEN13CA064
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LAWSON RON
Aircraft Model RANS S-19
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 090800035
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 27 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 79
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ron S Lawson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Crowley
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70526-0846
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Ron S Lawson
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Crowley
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 70526-0846
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OPL
Departure City Opelousas
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Crowley
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2012 2:40PM
User who most recently changed record sort
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --