# NTSB ATL04LA014: McCan Velox Revolution II, N296VX, Mooresville, NC, October 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 2003, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Mooresville, NC - Coordinates: 35.613887, -80.900276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6139&lon=-80.9003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Charlotte FSDO-33 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58145 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58145/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to conduct an aerobatic maneuver at an altitude too low to initiate a recovery. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - hangar/airport building - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated he entered a flat spin at 4,000 feet in the vicinity of the airpark. He kept the airplane in the flat spin too long and realized that he had insufficient altitude to recover the airplane before it collided with the ground, and he was too low to bail out. He raised the nose to a vertical attitude and applied full power. The airplane collided with a hangar and a post-crash fire ensued. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed no apparent mechanical failures. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 2003, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a McCan Velox revolution II experimental airplane, N296VX, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 aerobatic flight, collided with a hangar while maneuvering in the vicinity of Lake Norman Airpark, Mooresville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and there was a post-crash fire. The airline transport rated pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Lake Norman Airpark, Mooresville, North Carolina, on October 12, 2003, at 1645. The pilot stated he entered a flat spin at 4,000 feet in the vicinity of the airpark. He kept the airplane in the flat spin too long and realized that he had insufficient altitude to recover the airplane before it collided with the ground, and he was too low to bail out. He raised the nose to a vertical attitude and applied full power. The airplane collided with a hangar and a post-crash fire ensued. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed no apparent mechanical failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N296VX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N296VX-2003-12-12), registration cancelled 2003-12-12, S/N DHM 003, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McCan Velox Revolution II - Registry model: [Mccan Daniel H VELOX REVOLUTION II](https://openairdocs.org/model/mccan-daniel-h-velox-revolution-ii) (registry code 05608O2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DHM003 - Airframe hours: 57 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel H. McCan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2002, 57 hours before - Departed: 14A, Mooresville, NC - Airport: 14A, Lake Norman Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 10, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 17,435 total, 125 in this make and model, 9,900 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SVH, 11 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031012025889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031012025889A), Oct 12, 2003: Amtr VELOXREVOLUT, Mooresville, NC, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot stated he had been practicing aerobatics at 4000 ft AGL. He entered a flat spin maneuver and when he thought it was time to recover from the spin… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.