# Accident 20190529008532A: Dougherty John G RV4, Green Cove Spri, FL, May 29, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2019, 10:45 local time
- Place: Green Cove Spri, FL
- Airport: Haller Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.9578° N, 81.7272° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9578&lon=-81.7272&mi=10
- Aircraft: N203DD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N203DD-2020-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Dougherty John G RV4 (registry code 0560664, https://openairdocs.org/model/dougherty-john-g-rv4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (registry code 41594, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGHERTY JOHN G RV4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 20,065 total, 1,035 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA183) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190529008532A

## Narrative

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

*NOTE: ORIGINAL FSDO NOTIFICATION REFERENCED TAIL NUMBER N313RL. THE CORRECT TAIL NUMBER IS N319RL.

ON MAY 29, 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 (LOCAL TIME), N203DD AND N319RL (BOTH RV-4S), COLLIDED IN MIDAIR NEAR GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FLORIDA. N203DD SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; THE NOTED DAMAGES WERE BROKEN LANDING GEAR, BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT, DAMAGED WINGS (WITH SIGNS OF PAINT TRANSFER) AND BROKEN CANOPY. N319RL WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT OF N203DD ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE PILOT OF N319RL ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS FATALLY INJURED. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE BEING OPERATED UNDER PART 91 AS PERSONAL FLIGHTS. THE CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE DAY VFR, AND NEITHER PILOT WAS OPERATING UNDER A FLIGHT PLAN. BOTH AIRCRAFTS TOOK OFF FROM 7FL4 (HALLER AIRPARK) APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WERE FRIENDS. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE HAD ASKED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO FLY NEXT TO HIM, TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF HIS AIRSPEED INDICATOR. AFTER, THEY ENGAGED IN A MANEUVERED CALLED TAIL CHASE, WHERE THEY FLEW IN TRAIL THROUGH VARIOUS TURNS, DIVES AND CLIMBS. THEY WERE PERFORMING THE MANEUVER ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. AT THE END OF THE MANEUVER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID ?KNOCK IT OFF? (TO END THE MANEUVER) MADE A LEFT TURN (LOSING SIGHT OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^). ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ASSUMED, FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, THAT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WOULD KEEP HIM IN SIGHT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT AFTER A SERIES OF TURNS, WHILE ON AN EAST HEADING HE SAW ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM HIM (HEADING TOWARDS HIM AT AN ALTITUDE SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN HIS). ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT AFTER THE IMPACT HE SAW N319RL FALLING TO THE GROUND. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ABLE TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING AT A COW PASTURE. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, N203DD, HIT A SMALL SANDBANK, MOMENTARILY BECAME AIRBORNE, AND LANDED WITH THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT POINTING 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT OF THE DIRECTION OF LANDING. N203DD RECEIVED ADDITIONAL DAMAGES TO THE WINGS, EMPENNAGE, AND ENGINE COWLING.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N319RL, Lennon Rockwell Gene VANS RV-4: [Accident 20190529011422A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190529011422A)

## 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 ERA19FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA183), May 29, 2019: Vans RV4 (N203DD), Green Cove Springs, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of each pilot to maintain separation from the other airplane during intentional maneuvers within close proximity of each other.

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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