# Accident 20181012019759A: Jon S Thocker VANS RV-8, Culpeper, VA, October 12, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 2018, 20:08 local time
- Place: Culpeper, VA
- Airport: Culpeper Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5186° N, 77.8633° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5186&lon=-77.8633&mi=10
- Aircraft: N804RL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N804RL-2019-05-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Jon S Thocker VANS RV-8 (registry code 05636XY, https://openairdocs.org/model/jon-s-thocker-vans-rv-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Superior IO-360 series (registry code 59251, https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JON S THOCKER VANS RV-8
- Reported engine: SUPERIOR IO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 13,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA010) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181012019759A

## Narrative

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

ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS PART OF A TWO AIRCRAFT AEROBATIC PERFORMANCE BEING CONDUCTED AT THE 2018 CULPEPER AIRFEST LOCATED AT CULPEPER REGIONAL AIRPORT IN CULPEPER, VIRGINIA.  THE AIRCRAFT WERE VANS RV-8'S AND THEY INCLUDED PYROTECNICS CHAFFING AND FLARE SYSTEMS ON EACH WINGTIP.  THE PERFORMANCE WAS BEING CONDUCTED DURING NIGHT TIME HOURS AND THE SURROUNDING CONDITIONS WERE DARK.

THE TWO AIRCRAFT HAD PERFORMED A PORTION OF THEIR SHOW WHEN THEY MADE A TURN AT THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE AEROBATIC BOX AND BEGAN FLYING SOUTHWESTERLY ALONG THE SHOW CENTER LINE AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL.  THE LEAD AIRCRAFT PERFORMED TWO 360 DEGREE AILERON ROLLS TO THE LEFT AND THEN BEGAN TO CLIMB.  THE TRAILING AIRCRAFT PERFORMED THE SAME MANEUVER BUT ONLY COMPLETED ONE AND ONE-HALF AILERON ROLLS BEFORE GOING INTO A DIVE AND IMPACTING THE GROUND.

## 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 ERA19FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA010), Oct 12, 2018: Vans RV8 (N804RL), Culpeper, VA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of attitude orientation while maneuvering at low altitude in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in 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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