20031006026239A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr RV8 · Ben Wheeler, TX · October 6, 2003

Date: October 6, 2003 · 12:50 local
Place: Ben Wheeler, TX
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N27JW
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW04LA004
Reported as: Amtr RV8
Reported engine: Continental IO360*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 630 total

N27JWRegistration cancelled Jan 27, 2004 · Colliander Richard J VANS RV-8S/N RJC02 · Built 2000 Airframe modelColliander Richard J VANS RV-8 Engine modelLycoming I0360 SER A&CReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On October 6, 2003 @ 1250 CDT, a vans RV-8, N27JW, impacted the ground near Ben Wheeler, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by ernest robert woodard under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91 and visual flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The pilot and his passenger/wife privacy data omitted received fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed by impact. The flight originated from the gilmer municipal airport (4F4) @ approximately 1240 CDT and was part of a four ship formation destined for georgetown municipal airport (gtu). Shortly after takeoff, during cruise flight, the formation encountered deteriorating weather which resulted in the loss of visual contact with other formation aircraft. Of the three other aircraft, one landed at the intended destination (gtu) and two diverted into the terrell municipal airport (ktrl).

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON OCTOBER 6, 2003 @ 1250 CDT, A VANS RV-8, N27JW, IMPACTED THE GROUND NEAR BEN WHEELER, TEXAS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY ERNEST ROBERT WOODARD UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER/WIFE ^PRIVACY DATA OMI^ RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE GILMER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (4F4) @ APPROXIMATELY 1240 CDT AND WAS PART OF A FOUR SHIP FORMATION DESTINED FOR GEORGETOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (GTU). SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE FORMATION ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF VISUAL CONTACT WITH OTHER FORMATION AIRCRAFT. OF THE THREE OTHER AIRCRAFT, ONE LANDED AT THE INTENDED DESTINATION (GTU) AND TWO DIVERTED INTO THE TERRELL MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KTRL).

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW04LA004Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportVan, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Contributing factors were the low ceilings, rain, and fog.Oct 6, 2003 · Destroyed