NTSB Factual Report

On June 11, 2004, at 1945 central daylight time, an amateur-built Ruehle Glastar single-engine airplane, N106WR, was substantially damaged during the landing roll following a hard landing at the Lancaster Airport (LNC), near Lancaster, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditioned prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from LNC at 1805.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the site of the accident, the 3,220-hour pilot was performing his fourth landing on runway 13 (a 5,000-foot long by 100-foot wide asphalt runway) for the day. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he "slammed it [the airplane] down on the runway pretty hard on the main landing gears quickly followed by the nose gear." Subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed and the nose of the airplane impacted the runway surface.

Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the tubular frame of the airplane was fractured in three places near the nose gear attach point. The 3-bladed composite propeller was destroyed. The nose gear remained attached and was bent aft. The left wingtip was cracked.

A completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report) was not received from the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing.