# Accident 20160625006669A: Benjamin Harold E RV-4, Fitchburg, MA, June 25, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 2016, 20:10 local time
- Place: Fitchburg, MA
- Airport: Fitchburg Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5539° N, 71.7592° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5539&lon=-71.7592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3446, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3446) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Benjamin Harold E RV-4 (registry code 05631VF, https://openairdocs.org/model/benjamin-harold-e-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (registry code 42150, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BENJAMIN HAROLD E RV-4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320-D2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 836 total, 234 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA344) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160625006669A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WITH ONE TANDEM PASSENGER ON BOARD, LANDED THE AIRCRAFT AT THE THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY NUMBER 20 AT 2010 ZULU HOURS AT (FIT). UPON ROLL-OUT AT THE INTERSECTION OF RUNWAY 20 AND 32, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. DURING THAT TIME, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STARTED TO WOBBLE AND THEN COLLAPSE.  BOTH THE RIGHT WING AND MAIN PROPELLER CONTACTED THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 20 INTO THE GRAVEL AND GRASS APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST FACING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION.

## 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 GAA16CA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA344), Jun 25, 2016: Benjamin Harold E RV-4 (N3446), Fitchburg, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control upon landing, which resulted in a runway excursion followed by impact with terrain.

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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