# NTSB ATL04LA030: Thocker Vans RV-4, N44NW, Liberty, NC, October 30, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 2003, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Liberty, NC - Coordinates: 35.912776, -79.617225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9128&lon=-79.6172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58265 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58265/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA030 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed on initial takeoff climb resulting in an in-flight loss of control, inadvertent stall, and collision with the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot stated on takeoff roll the control stick would not move forward. The airplane became airborne and achieved an extremely nose high attitude. He thought he might have an elevator trim problem and pushed the trim lever forward with negative results. The airplane was approaching a stall, entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. A witness observed the airplane on takeoff. The tail came up almost as soon as the takeoff roll began. The rotation was abrupt and the airplane came off the ground in a nose high attitude. The nose of the airplane was observed to pitch up, the airplane stalled, veered to the right and then back to the left. The nose dropped and the airplane continued descending to the left and collided with the ground. Examination of the flight control system revealed no evidence of a control system failure. Review of the Van's Aircraft RV-4 data reveals the RV-4 will stall at 54 mph in a clean configuration. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2003, at 1500 eastern standard time, a Thocker, Vans RV-4, N44NW, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the runway on takeoff roll at the Causey Airport, Liberty, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated on October 30, 2003, from Causey Airport, Liberty, North Carolina, at 1500. The pilot stated he started his takeoff roll on runway 20. The first part of the rotation was normal and he continued to release back pressure but shortly after that the stick would not move forward. The airplane became airborne and achieved an extremely nose high attitude. He thought he might have an elevator trim problem and pushed the trim lever forward with negative results. The airplane was approaching a stall, entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. He exited the airplane and returned a short time later. He reached in the airplane and tried to move the control stick. It moved freely and correctly. A witness stated he observed the airplane on takeoff. The tail came up almost as soon as the takeoff roll began. The rotation was abrupt and the airplane came off the ground in a nose high attitude. The nose of the airplane was observed to pitch up, the airplane stalled, veered to the right and then back to the left. The nose dropped and the airplane continued descending to the left and collided with the ground. The accident pilot stated in a subsequent statement that while the airplane was being taxied to the runway with the tail wheel bumping over the sod, that the prop wash might have moved the seatbelt over the stick in it's rear most position. Examination of the flight control system revealed there was no evidence of a control system failure. Review of the Van's Aircraft RV-4 Performance Data reveals the RV-4 will stall at 54 mph in the clean configuration. No stall speed is listed for the landing configuration. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44NW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44NW-2013-09-30), registration cancelled 2013-09-30, S/N 599 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Thocker Vans RV-4 - Registry model: [Thocker Jon S VANS RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/thocker-jon-s-vans-rv-4) (registry code 05608JH) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 599 - Airframe hours: 642 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Randy J. Brown - Registered owner: John S. Cargill - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 2003, 5 hours before - Departed: 2A5, Liberty, NC - Airport: 2A5, Causey Airport, runway 20, 3,800 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 19, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,470 total, 30 in this make and model, 816 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: BUY, 22 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 20031030027829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031030027829A), Oct 30, 2003: Amtr VANSRV4, Liberty, NC, Destroyed. (-23) Rated pilot took off with the flaps extended. Takeoffs are to be made with the flaps up according to the POH. Witnesses reported the pilot rotated with a… 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.