# NTSB ATL89DKJ01: Sloan RV-4, N77SA, Russellville, AL, December 26, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1988, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Russellville, AL
- Coordinates: 31.259649, -88.019607 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2596&lon=-88.0196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89DKJ01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7831/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89DKJ01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - powerplant controls - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - stall - intentional, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING AT 2500 FEET WITH RAM AIR GATE OPEN, ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PLT CLOSED THE RAM AIR GATE AND APPLIED CARB HEAT BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGH AND THEN STOPPED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD, CLEARING SEVERAL LARGE TREES, HOWEVER, AS HE APPROACHED THE AREA, HE WAS TOO LOW TO AVOID THE TREES. HE INTENTIONALLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN IMPACT WITH THE GROUND AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARB ICE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77SA-1991-04-29), registration cancelled 1991-04-29, S/N 77 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SLOAN RV-4
- Registry model: [Sloan RV-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/sloan-rv-3) (registry code 0560899) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 77
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alex Sloan
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 22, 1988, 4 hours before
- Departed: MUSCLE SHOALS, AL
- Destination: M22, RUSSELLVILLE, AL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 531 total, 137 in this make and model, 449 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19881226056409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881226056409A), Dec 26, 1988: Amtrvn VANSRV3, Russellville, AL, Substantial damage. Engine lost power. Landing in a field struck a tree. Pilot beleives carburetor icing to be the problem.

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.

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