NTSB Factual Report

On September 18, 2005, approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, a Shea Vans RV6A, N985JS, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at the Thomas Memorial Airport (76V), Glendo, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, without a flight plan. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated at Glendo, Wyoming, approximately 1145.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he stated, he had flown from Converse County Airport (DGW) in Douglas, Wyoming, to a community sponsored fly-in at the Thomas Memorial Airport (76V) Glendo, Wyoming. The pilot stated, "I recall making a normal landing. Witnesses told me that after landing, about 30-50 feet into the landing roll, the nose gear failed causing the aircraft to flip over onto the canopy."

According to an FAA inspector who examined the airplane, the left and right wingtips were crushed, the propeller was bent, the left side of the fuselage behind the wing was buckled, the horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and rudder were wrinkled, the canopy was destroyed, and the nose gear was destroyed.

According to the pilot, the weather at the time of the accident was winds from 090 at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, temperature 85 degrees F., dew point 31 degrees F., and altimeter setting 30.10 inches of mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

failure of the nose gear during the landing roll.