# Accident 20170831014049A: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12, Fishers, IN, August 31, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2017, 11:30 local time
- Place: Fishers, IN
- Airport: Indianapolis Metropolitan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.9300° N, 86.0403° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9300&lon=-86.0403&mi=10
- Aircraft: N212ZF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N212ZF-2018-03-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vans RV-12 (registry code 0690009, https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17FA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170831014049A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 31, 2017, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A VANS AIRCRAFT INC. RV-12 EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE, N212ZF, IMPACTED TERRAIN FOLLOWING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 15 AT THE INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN AIRPORT (UMP), NEAR FISHERS, INDIANA.  THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, AND WAS FATALLY INJURED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING THE IMPACT AND BY A POST IMPACT GROUND FIRE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT.  DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

TWO WITNESSES STANDING NEAR THE TOM WOOD EXECUTIVE HANGAR AT UMP OBSERVED N212ZF TAXI BY FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 15.  THE PILOT USED THE FULL LENGTH OF RUNWAY 15 AND THE TAKEOFF APPEARED NORMAL.  ONE WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TAKEOFF AND CLIMB TO APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET, BEFORE TURNING AWAY TO CONTINUE HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE OTHER WITNESS. NEITHER WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT CRASH OFF THE END OF RUNWAY 15.

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 225 FEET SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 15.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 100 DEGREES ABOUT 104 FEET FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT.  FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT?S CENTER FUESELAGE SECTION INCLUDING THE COCKPIT/CABIN AREA FROM THE FIREWALL TO THE WING?S TRAILING EDGE.

## 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 CEN17FA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA334), Aug 31, 2017: Vans RV-12 (N212ZF), Fishers, IN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to latch the canopy before takeoff, and his failure to maintain pitch control following the in-flight opening of the canopy during the initial climb resulting in a subsequent…

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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