20200105003239A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Tyler W Walker/Joseph P Macken VANS RV-6 · Vinemont, AL · January 5, 2020

Date: January 5, 2020 · 12:42 local
Place: Vinemont, AL
Airport: Cullman Regional - Folsom Field
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N420PW
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA20FA063
Reported as: Tyler W Walker/Joseph P Macken Vans RV-6
Reported engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 460 total

N420PWRegistration cancelled Jan 8, 2022 · Tyler W Walker/Joseph P Macken VANS RV-6S/N 20181 Airframe modelTyler W Walker/Joseph P Macken VANS RV-6 Engine modelLycoming O-360-A1DReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N420PW, an experimental vans RV-6 departed Cullman airport (cmd) at 12:42 local time. As the aircraft climbed thru approximately 300 feet, witnesses reported hearing a loud noise. Then observed the aircraft begin a sharp 180 degree turn as it descended rapidly toward the surface. The aircraft impacted the ground fatally injuring both occupants. The aircraft was destroyed and there was no post crash fire.

As the FAA filed it

N420PW, AN EXPERIMENTAL VANS RV-6 DEPARTED CULLMAN AIRPORT (CMD) AT 12:42 LOCAL TIME. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED THRU APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET, WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING A LOUD NOISE. THEN OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT BEGIN A SHARP 180 DEGREE TURN AS IT DESCENDED RAPIDLY TOWARD THE SURFACE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND FATALLY INJURING BOTH OCCUPANTS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA20FA063Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCullman, ALThe pilot’s inadequate planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb. Also causal was the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while attempting to return to the runway after…Jan 5, 2020 · Destroyed