# Accident 20150809015539A: Erickson Larry D RAF 2000 GT, Dakota City, IA, August 9, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2015, 18:57 local time
- Place: Dakota City, IA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7547° N, 94.1986° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7547&lon=-94.1986&mi=10
- Aircraft: N315LK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N315LK-2019-01-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Erickson Larry D RAF 2000 GT (registry code 056313L, https://openairdocs.org/model/erickson-larry-d-raf-2000-gt) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Subaru ALL MDLS A/B (registry code 59050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERICKSON LARRY D RAF 2000 GT
- Reported engine: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 154 total, 100 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA344) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150809015539A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRMAN DEPARTED THE AIRPORT ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT WITH A PASSENGER.  THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT IN THE LOCAL AREA WAS FAMILIAR TO THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER HAD FLOWN WITH THE AIRMAN ON PREVIOUS FLIGHTS.

THE AIRMAN WAS REPORTED TO BE ABOUT 400 TO 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND HAD BEEN CIRCLING OVER THE RESIDENCE OF THE PASSENGER IN A FAIRLY WIDE PATTERN.  ON THE THIRD OR FOURTH PASS THE PASSENGER REPORTED A SMOOTH AND NORMAL FLIGHT.  THE AIRMAN THEN UTTERED AN EXPLETIVE AND THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY DESCENDED. THE AIRMAN WAS, AS REPORTED BY THE PASSENGER, HAVING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT.   THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND AND THE AIRMAN INCREASED THE THROTTLE; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT CLIMB.  THE PASSENGER ALSO REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED A 180 DEGREE TURN AND THEN STRUCK A TREE, COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE NEXT TO THE TREE.  THE AIRMAN SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT.  THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## 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 CEN15LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA344), Aug 9, 2015: Erickson Larry D RAF 2000 GT (N315LK), Humboldt, IA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of gyroplane control while maneuvering at low 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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