# Accident 20151017017419A: Zidek John Jay VANS RV-4, Cortland, NE, October 17, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2015, 08:41 local time
- Place: Cortland, NE
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.4950° N, 96.7647° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4950&lon=-96.7647&mi=10
- Aircraft: N999ZF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N999ZF-2016-10-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Zidek John Jay VANS RV-4 (registry code 05603YW, https://openairdocs.org/model/zidek-john-jay-vans-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZIDEK JOHN JAY VANS RV-4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 513 total, 148 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA014) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151017017419A

## Narrative

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

THE PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED THE CEK AIRPORT ENROUTE TO HIS BROTHER?S FARM LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORTLAND, NEBRASKA.  THE AIRMAN HAD ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD AND FLEW AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1000 FEET AGL. ONCE AT THE FARM, THE AIRMAN PROCEEDED TO OVERFLY THE PROPERTY THREE TIMES MAKING SEVERAL STEEP TURNS IN THE PROCESS. DURING THESE MANEUVERS, THE ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT VARIED BETWEEN 50 AND 500 FEET AGL. ON THE THIRD PASS, THE AIRMAN PITCHED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A STEEP CLIMB ON A SOUTHWEST HEADING UP TO AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FEET AGL, BEFORE MAKING A SHARP TURN TOWARD THE NORTH. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SUDDENLY PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND DESCENDED RAPIDLY TOWARD THE GROUND WITH THE WINGS WOBBLING BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIRCRAFT RECOVERED BRIEFLY TO A LEVEL FLIGHT ATTITUDE, BEFORE ENTERING A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN AND IMPACTING A HARVESTED BEAN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST 100 FEET FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT AREA AND A POST-CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRMAN AND PASSENGER WHERE FATALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 CEN16FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA014), Oct 17, 2015: Zidek Vans RV-4 (N999ZF), Cortland, NE, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to intentionally maneuver at a low altitude and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the climbing right turn, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical…

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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