Amateur-built RV10 N110DV accident near Spring Branch, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath and his subsequent abrupt maneuver to avoid trees, which led to the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and resulted in an aerodynamic stall during landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, on short final, the airplane was too low, too slow, and right of the runway centerline, and that he overcorrected to clear trees located at the approach end of runway 12. Subsequently, the airplane stalled and touched down on the upsloping approach end of the runway. The right wing struck rising terrain in the safety area on the right side of the runway, and the airplane skidded across the grass safety area and came to rest on the parallel taxiway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine mounts.

The runway had rising terrain at both the approach and departure ends. The airport facility directory noted that runway 12 had 20-ft-tall trees 25 ft from the runway threshold and required a 4:1 glideslope to remain clear of them.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA507 for the full record.