# Accident 20181117022619A: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12, Niceville, FL, November 17, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 17, 2018, 13:00 local time
- Place: Niceville, FL
- Airport: Ruckel Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5281° N, 86.4389° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5281&lon=-86.4389&mi=10
- Aircraft: N232VA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N232VA-2021-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vans RV-12 (registry code 060009Y, 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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181117022619A

## Narrative

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

ON 11/17/2018 - N232VA WAS BEING USED FOR STUDENT FLIGHT TRAINING. AT 1300, N232VA TOOK OFF FROM AL17 (RUCKEL FIELD), ON RW 18. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE STUDENT PILOT HAD CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

WHEN N232VA REACHED THE ALTITUDE OF 280 FEET, THE ENGINE HAD A DECREASE IN POWER. AT THAT TIME THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ATTEMPTED TO CONDUCT A 180 DEGREE TURN FOR LANDING ON RW36.

DURING THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT WAS DECENDING AND CONTACTED THE TREES.

N232VA EXITED THE TREE LINE, IMPACTED THE GROUND, FLIPPED OVER ON ITS TOP, AND SLID 200 FEET ACROSS THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY.

UNABLE TO OBTAIN PIC  INFORMATION ON FLIGHT TIME HOURS AND TRAINING. ALL INFORMATION IS IN AN ELECTRONIC LOGBOOK AND NO LOG ON AND PASSWORD INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.

UNABLE TO OBTAIN STUDENT PILOT FLIGHT HOUR INFORMATION, IN THE HOSPITAL IN ICU.

## 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 ERA19FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA048), Nov 17, 2018: Vans RV-12 (N232VA), Niceville, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons, and pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a turn back to the runway, which resulted in an exceedance of the…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.