Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that during landing he touched down about 420 feet down the 1,200-foot grass runway and the airplane bounced. He decided to put it "right back down." As soon as the airplane touched down again, the pilot applied brakes with the airplane on all three wheels. He said that the airplane's nosewheel entered a "dip" in the runway that "appeared to be somewhat soft" and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane's nose then struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by executing a go-around when the airplane bounced.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08LA214 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 27, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Nearest airport
- Wittman Regional Airport (OSH)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
RANS S-6ES
- N-number
- N402PB
- Category
- Airplane
- 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.