Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that while landing she applied aft pressure on the control stick to flair the airplane and lost sight of the runway seeing only the nose of the airplane. She reduced pressure on the control stick and the passenger said "stick forward". The pilot stated that she didn't know how far forward she moved the control stick. The airplane subsequently impacted the runway and nosed down before settling back onto the landing gear. The airplane sustained damage to the propeller, cowl, landing gear and firewall.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14CA264 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 21, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Rockwell City, Iowa
- Nearest airport
- Rockwell City Muni (2Y4)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built RV 4
- N-number
- N50036
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1989
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.