Probable cause
The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
During landing on a turf runway, the nosewheel landing gear separated. An examination of the runway surface revealed impact marks consistent with a hard landing in an almost-level attitude. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Downloaded nonvolatile memory indicated that the airplane's initial touchdown was flat or slightly negative, which resulted in the nose landing gear contacting the runway surface before the main landing gear. The data also indicated that the landing occurred at a high rate of speed and that the pilot did not attempt to flare the airplane during the landing.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR13LA174 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 30, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Waldport, Oregon
- Nearest airport
- Wakonda Beach State Airport (R33)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Vans RV12
- N-number
- N572LS
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2010
- 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.