# Accident 20180712011009A: Eckberg D R/Marr R RUTAN DEFIANT, Plainville, CT, July 12, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2018, 10:42 local time
- Place: Plainville, CT
- Airport: Robertson
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.6839° N, 72.8700° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6839&lon=-72.8700&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17DR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17DR-2021-07-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eckberg D R/Marr R RUTAN DEFIANT (registry code 05615XL, https://openairdocs.org/model/eckberg-d-r-marr-r-rutan-defiant) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ECKBERG D R/MARR R RUTAN DEFIANT
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 766 total, 286 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18FA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA189) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180712011009A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 12, 2018, ABOUT 10:42 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A RUTAN DEFIANT, N17DR, IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE IN A TRAFFIC PATTERN AT ROBERTSON FIELD AIRPORT (4B8), PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT. THE EXPERIEMNTAL, AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REGISTERED TO THE PILOT AND WAS OPERATED UNDER PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED ABOUT 10:37 AM. THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED CLIMBING OUT OF RUNWAY 2 AND VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS 150-200 FEET AGL NEAR THE FBO. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN A STEEP (80-90 DEGREE) LEFT BANK UNTIL IT DISAPPEARED BELOW THE HORIZON OUT OF VIEW AND CRASHED INTO A CITY-OWNED LANDFILL. THERE WAS NO SMOKE TRAILING THE AIRPLANE. THE OBSERVER HEARD AT LEAST ONE ENGINE RUNNING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA18FA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA189), Jul 12, 2018: Rutan Defiant (N17DR), Plainville, CT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of airplane control during climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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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