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20221007016319A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Green L/Gilner D RV-4 · Rowlesburg, WV · October 7, 2022

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 7, 2022 · 14:04 local
Place
Rowlesburg, WV
Phase of flight
Landing: Approach
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N262DF
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA23LA010
Reported as
Green L/Gilner D RV-4
Reported engine
Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
1
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
1,072 total860 in this make and model19 in the last 90 days
N262DFRegistration cancelled Jun 10, 2023 · Green L/Gilner D RV-4S/N 1969 · Built 1996Airframe modelGreen L/Gilner D RV-4Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

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.

Pilot statement:on oct 7th, 2022 I departed ezf for a VFR flight into the cheat river airstrip, WV.

The flight was conducted under VFR, and the weather was VFR with estimated visibility of greater than 5 miles, celling estimated at over 9,000 ft.

I visually located the airstrip. I made a radio call stating position 13.4 miles out for landing.

At 5 miles I updated radio position.

I entered the pattern and lowered flaps (fully) and slowed to approach speed.

I made my final radio call prior to landing. At that moment I checked my angle of attack indicator and noted there was excess lift and the gauge and the needle had just begun to move. Double checking against airspeed I noted between 83-84 KTS, and determined landing would be normal and fine.

I believe I impacted the ground less than 1 second later. The impact was substantial. Afterward, I believe I impacted nearly flat to-slightly nose down attitude based on photos at the scene.

My g-meter registered 11.2G.

I also believe I was unconscious for some time, but was able to get out of the aircraft after turning off fuel and releasing my safety harness.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATEMENT:ON OCT 7TH, 2022 I DEPARTED EZF FOR A VFR FLIGHT INTO THE CHEAT RIVER AIRSTRIP, WV.

THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER VFR, AND THE WEATHER WAS VFR WITH ESTIMATED VISIBILITY OF GREATER THAN 5 MILES, CELLING ESTIMATED AT OVER 9,000 FT.

I VISUALLY LOCATED THE AIRSTRIP. I MADE A RADIO CALL STATING POSITION 13.4 MILES OUT FOR LANDING.

AT 5 MILES I UPDATED RADIO POSITION.

I ENTERED THE PATTERN AND LOWERED FLAPS (FULLY) AND SLOWED TO APPROACH SPEED.

I MADE MY FINAL RADIO CALL PRIOR TO LANDING. AT THAT MOMENT I CHECKED MY ANGLE OF ATTACK INDICATOR AND NOTED THERE WAS EXCESS LIFT AND THE GAUGE AND THE NEEDLE HAD JUST BEGUN TO MOVE. DOUBLE CHECKING AGAINST AIRSPEED I NOTED BETWEEN 83-84 KTS, AND DETERMINED LANDING WOULD BE NORMAL AND FINE.

I BELIEVE I IMPACTED THE GROUND LESS THAN 1 SECOND LATER. THE IMPACT WAS SUBSTANTIAL. AFTERWARD, I BELIEVE I IMPACTED NEARLY FLAT TO-SLIGHTLY NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE BASED ON PHOTOS AT THE SCENE.

MY G-METER REGISTERED 11.2G.

I ALSO BELIEVE I WAS UNCONSCIOUS FOR SOME TIME, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER TURNING OFF FUEL AND RELEASING MY SAFETY HARNESS.

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 ERA23LA010Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRowlesburg, WVThe pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate airspeed/angle-of-attack during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and impact with terrain.Oct 7, 2022 · Substantial damage