20200827012959A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bigler James E VANS RV6-A · Milton, DE · August 27, 2020

Date: August 27, 2020 · 14:00 local
Place: Milton, DE
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N628JB
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA20CA298
Reported as: Bigler James E Vans RV6-A
Reported engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Private pilot, sport pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 294 total79 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days

N628JBRegistration cancelled Dec 9, 2020 · Bigler James E VANS RV6-AS/N 23492 · Built 2004 Airframe modelBigler James E VANS RV6-A Engine modelLycoming O-360-A1A4 cycle

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.

Aircraft departed eagles crest airport, DE25, at approximately 13:45 EST. Maneuvers performed over adjacent farmers fields, to test and calibrate recently installed avionics. According to pilot statements, the aircraft descended to approximately 500 feet, and confusion ensued as to who was controlling the aircraft. The aircraft impacted the ground in a field at approximately 14:00 EST. Aircraft came to a rest inverted and was destroyed. Both persons on board exited the aircraft without serious injury.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED EAGLES CREST AIRPORT, DE25, AT APPROXIMATELY 13:45 EST. MANEUVERS PERFORMED OVER ADJACENT FARMERS FIELDS, TO TEST AND CALIBRATE RECENTLY INSTALLED AVIONICS. ACCORDING TO PILOT STATEMENTS, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET, AND CONFUSION ENSUED AS TO WHO WAS CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A FIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 14:00 EST. AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST INVERTED AND WAS DESTROYED. BOTH PERSONS ON BOARD EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY.

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 ERA20CA298Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportMilton, DEThe pilot and owner’s failure to adequately communicate and establish an understanding of who was flying the airplane, and their failure to take timely action to avoid a collision with terrain.Aug 27, 2020 · Substantial damage