20150902015089A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Henderson W A/Johnson W L RV-6A · Bon Aqua, TN · September 2, 2015

Date: September 2, 2015 · 15:45 local
Place: Bon Aqua, TN
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N216LA
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA15FA336
Reported as: Henderson W A/Johnson W L RV-6A
Reported engine: Aero-Sport Power O-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,415 total97 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N216LARegistration cancelled Sep 13, 2018 · Henderson W A/Johnson W L RV-6AS/N 60527 · Built 2005 Airframe modelHenderson W A/Johnson W L RV-6A Engine modelLycoming O-360 seriesReciprocating

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.

Pilot departed shelbyville, TN (syi) to his home airport, shelby county, al (eet). Weather was not a factor.

Pilot had flight following procedures in place and communicated with air traffic at the start of this flight.

Pilot was initially on a southerly heading for approximately 20 minutes and then turned to a northerly heading, this heading was held for approximately 30 minutes; after this time, the aircraft continued to climb and started circling. The aircraft went from 5000 feet to 10,000 feet in 10 mile circles and then descended. The aircraft flew into a wooded area behind new construction. According to witness, the aircraft just "cruised" into the woods. Pilot was fatally injured. Medical examiner found indications of possible heart issues.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DEPARTED SHELBYVILLE, TN (SYI) TO HIS HOME AIRPORT, SHELBY COUNTY, AL (EET). WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR.

PILOT HAD FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES IN PLACE AND COMMUNICATED WITH AIR TRAFFIC AT THE START OF THIS FLIGHT.

PILOT WAS INITIALLY ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AND THEN TURNED TO A NORTHERLY HEADING, THIS HEADING WAS HELD FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES; AFTER THIS TIME, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO CLIMB AND STARTED CIRCLING. THE AIRCRAFT WENT FROM 5000 FEET TO 10,000 FEET IN 10 MILE CIRCLES AND THEN DESCENDED. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO A WOODED AREA BEHIND NEW CONSTRUCTION. ACCORDING TO WITNESS, THE AIRCRAFT JUST "CRUISED" INTO THE WOODS. PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. MEDICAL EXAMINER FOUND INDICATIONS OF POSSIBLE HEART ISSUES.

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 ERA15FA336Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBon Aqua, TNThe pilot's incapacitation from complications of a recent heart attack, which resulted in a loss of control during cruise flight.Sep 2, 2015 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N216LA · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20100821049899ILanding: Touchdown · Columbiana, ALThis was a local personal flight from a private grass strip. The runway was mowed about three quarters to two thirds. The pilot departed from the mowed section. Upon return the pilot landed in the opposite direction. The grass at this end was eighteen to…Aug 21, 2010 · Minor damage