Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a hard landing, which resulted in the fracture of the nose landing gear.
NTSB analysis
The purpose of the flight was to perform three takeoffs and landings at night. The pilot stated that the first takeoff and landing was uneventful and that, at touchdown, he used aerodynamic braking to slow the airplane by keeping its nose off the runway as long as possible. He added that the second landing was faster, that more runway was used, and that the nose landing gear (NLG) touched down "harder" than during the first landing. After the NLG touched down, the airplane pulled right and developed a shimmy. The pilot subsequently lost directional control of the airplane, and the NLG collapsed. Examination of the fracture surfaces on the NLG revealed features consistent with ductile overstress fracture. The overall fracture pattern was consistent with fracture under a lateral bending load.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA15IA009 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 2, 2014
- Type
- Incident
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Nearest airport
- Cobb County-Mc Collum Field (RYY)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night, dark
Amateur-built Velocity XLRG
- N-number
- N301EF
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2002
- Damage
- Minor
- 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.