# Accident 20200609008099A: Wilson Charlie H WILSON RV4, Safford, AZ, June 9, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2020, 08:45 local time
- Place: Safford, AZ
- Airport: Safford Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8407° N, 109.6230° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8407&lon=-109.6230&mi=10
- Aircraft: N173CW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N173CW-2022-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wilson Charlie H WILSON RV4 (registry code 0563090, https://openairdocs.org/model/wilson-charlie-h-wilson-rv4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (registry code 42123, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WILSON CHARLIE H WILSON RV4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320-E2D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,739 total, 2,739 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA176) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200609008099A

## Narrative

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

AWAITING NTSB TRAVEL RESTRICTION TO BE LIFTED TO PERFORM BREAKDOWN INSPECTION OF ENGINE.

ON JUNE 09, 2020, ABOUT 08:45 LOCAL MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT MODEL RV-4, SERIAL NUMBER 95-1736, N173CW WHICH WAS CERTIFICATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR SECTION 21.191(G) (AMATEUR-BUILT) DEPARTED TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ARIZONA (TUS) TO SAFFORD REGIONAL AIRPORT, ARIZONA (SAD). AT APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE SOUTH EAST OF (SAD) THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON (MESA TOP) HILL SIDE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED WITH ATC. THE ONE PILOT ONBOARD SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.

MEMBERS OF THE GRAHAM COUNTY SHERIFF?S OFFICE AND SAFFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND LOCATED A YELLOW COLORED PLANE ON THE HILLSIDE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.  WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AIR VAC AND ANOTHER CITIZEN THE WRECKAGE WAS VIEWED FROM THE AIR AND A WAY TO THE PLANE WAS COMMUNICATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.  LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMT?S FROM LIFELINE REACHED THE CRASH AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE PILOT, A LONE OCCUPANT, WAS DECEASED. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SAFFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE GRAHAM COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE, PILOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE WRECKAGE AND TAKEN TO THE VINING FUNERAL HOME AWAITING TRANSPORT TO THE PIMA COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER?S OFFICE FOR AN AUTOPSY.

THE PILOT REPORTED HIS OCCUPATION AS ?RETIRED USN?. THE PILOT HAD A HISTORY OF CATARACTS WITH INTRA-OCULAR LENS PLACEMENT IN THE LEFT EYE IN 2014 AND IN THE RIGHT EYE IN 2018. HE DEMONSTRATED 20/20 VISION DURING HIS 2020 EXAM. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED A HISTORY OF REMOTE RIGHT SHOULDER DISLOCATION AND SURGERY, AND 2017 RIGHT ANKLE FRACTURE. HE ALSO REPORTED MALARIA IN 1945.

## 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 WPR20LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA176), Jun 9, 2020: Vans RV4 (N173CW), Safford, AZ, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of pitch control during the landing approach due to a jammed elevator control system.

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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