# Accident 19980614013349A: Amtr RV4, Sedona, AZ, June 14, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 14, 1998, 11:45 local time
- Place: Sedona, AZ
- Airport: Sedona Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9403° N, 111.9400° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9403&lon=-111.9400&mi=10
- Aircraft: N813R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N813R-2013-08-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Blackmore Richard H RV-4 (registry code 056083B, https://openairdocs.org/model/blackmore-richard-h-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR RV4
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 294 total, 35 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA195) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980614013349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLEW INTO A MOUNTAINSIDE UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE SIDE OF A VERTICAL OUTCROPPING OF ROCK WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS.  THE PILOT HAD TOLD FRIENDS THAT HE WANTED TO PERFORM AVIATION STUNTS FOR OTHER FRIENDS.  ONE WITNESS SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO HAVE NEEDED APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 100 FEET OF ADDITIONAL ALTITUDE IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE MANEUVER WITHOUT CONTACTING THE GROUND.  OTHER WITNESSES SAID THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED ALMOST ONE COMPLETE LOOP BEFORE IT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN.  THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE COULD BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE LOOP.  DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 5,853 FEET.        (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. PILOT PERFORMED LOW LEVEL AEROBATICS CLOSE TO THAT TERRAIN. THE AIRMAN EXECUTED A LOOP AND AT THE COMPLETION OF THE MANEUVER, EXITED AT TOO LOW OF AN ALTITUDE AND IMPACTED THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN/NATURAL MONUMENT, (CATHEDRAL ROCK).

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA195), Jun 14, 1998: Blackmore RV-4 (N813R), Sedona, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's attempt to perform aerobatics with insufficient terrain clearance altitude available to complete the maneuver. A factor was high density altitude.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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