N678LLVans Aircraft RV-8 · 2008

On June 29, 2019, at 1345 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV8 airplane, N678LL, impacted terrain after it veered off runway 18 at Joplin Regional Airport (JLN), Joplin, Missouri. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to Joplin Flyers Inc and operated by Joplin Flyers Flying Club under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport, Sulphur Springs, Texas, and was destined to JLN.

The pilot stated he performed a "normal" landing with flaps fully extended, and a touchdown on the main wheels with an airplane speed of about 65 knots. He applied forward control pressure on the control stick to "pin" the main wheels. He said that tail was still elevated, and the airplane speed was about 50 knots when he felt the airplane "immediately veer hard left." He said he "immediately" applied right rudder, but the airplane continued turning left and he then applied full right rudder. The additional application of right rudder had no effect; the airplane continued in the left turn and skidded 90 degrees. The airplane came to a stop after the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing struck the ground resulting in substantial damage.

The pilot stated that the passenger felt a bump just prior to veering left but he did not. He stated that the bump and damage to the left wheel fairing may have been attributed to debris the pilot had noticed on the runway during landing. The pilot recommended that airport personnel should regularly inspect the runways for debris.

As part of the airport's operational procedures, runways are regularly inspected. The inspections conducted before and after the accident revealed no evidence of foreign objects/debris except for the airplane.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, air traffic control tower personnel reported seeing the airplane veer immediately hard right, then veered immediately left and "came around." Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies with brake, wheel, or flight controls that would have precluded normal operation. The landing gear wheels spun freely; the wheels stopped when the brake was applied and disengaged when released.