20020512008289A

(.19) On may 12, 2002, at 1615 pacific daylight time, a amateur-built mulligan RV4 airplane, N6579B, collided with the ground during an attempted go-around from runway 26 at the Santa Ynez, California, airport. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 of the federal aviation regulations. The airplane sustained substantial damage in the collision sequence. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight that originated from the Santa Ynez Airport at 1545. No flight plan was filed. The accident was initially reported by the Santa barbara county fire department, which has a station very close to the Santa Ynez Airport. The captain on duty at the time of the event stated that they observed the accident airplane approach runway 26 "flying nearly sideways." The fire fighters at the station then lost sight of the airplane as it descended from their view. The station responded to the reported accident and secured the scene from fire ignition danger. The captain reported that the fuel tanks contained "lots of fuel." At the time of the accident he estimated that the winds were from the west about 10 mph. The captain noted that the "entire airplane" including the wings, engine compartment, firewall, and tail surfaces sustained damage. The pilot was interviewed by telephone on may 12, 2002. He reported that he had just recently purchased the airplane. He was on final approach to runway 26 when a gust of wind caused the airplane to balloon up. He elected to go around and added full power, then retracted the flaps. During this time, the airplane was drifting off the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that for "undetermined reasons" the airplane settled to the ground. The left wing contacted the ground, followed by the airplane's nose. He estimated that the winds were from 260 degrees at 10 mph, with gusts to 15 to 20 mph. The pilot said he is not aware of any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident sequence. (-23) airplane crashed during landing attempt. Pilot states passenger grabbed stick and pilot witnessed the stick being pulled back, not of his initiation. This experimental amateur-built aircraft has tandem seating front and back. Passenger was seated in back. Pilot stated that the passenger got NE rvous, and grabbed the control stick on landing, causing a low-altitude stall and wing drop resulting in skidding contact with terrain alongside runway.