20111210027489A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Crosley Richard VANS RV-8 · Armistead, CA · December 10, 2011

Date: December 10, 2011 · 13:00 local
Place: Armistead, CA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N948RC
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR12FA062
Reported as: Crosley Richard Vans RV-8
Reported engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,800 total

N948RCRegistration cancelled May 9, 2013 · Crosley Richard VANS RV-8S/N 0002 · Built 2005 Airframe modelCrosley Richard VANS RV-8 Engine modelLycoming O-360-A1A4 cycle

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.

Witnesses stated they observed the accident airplane attempting to perform a "loop" and that it impacted terrain trying to complete the manuever. Witnesses said they heard engine sounds all the way to impact. The aircraft crashed in an upright wings level attitude.

As the FAA filed it

WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM A "LOOP" AND THAT IT IMPACTED TERRAIN TRYING TO COMPLETE THE MANUEVER. WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD ENGINE SOUNDS ALL THE WAY TO IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN AN UPRIGHT WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE.

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 WPR12FA062Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportArmistead, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while performing low altitude aerobatic maneuvers.Dec 10, 2011 · Substantial damage